REDUCTIONS IN AUTISM-SPECIFIC EXPERTISE RAISE CONCERNS in Montgomery County Public Schools
As MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor enters his second year and Dr. Margaret Cage is early in her first year leading the Division of Specialized Support Services, MCPS is executing significant changes to special education that directly affect autistic students and their families.
Planned reductions and reorganization within MCPS special education include the elimination of supervisors of services important to autistic students: Autism Services, Speech and Language Services, Transition Services, and Alternate Learning Outcomes.
Most concerning, the Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly one-half. Two positions were eliminated, and five psychologists with autism-specific assessment expertise were reassigned to general caseloads, dispersing specialized knowledge that has long supported schools and IEP teams. At its peak the MCPS Autism Unit included 21 full-time specialists serving 73 schools. The unit’s long time supervisor, Kristen Ericson, is also departing after 43 years at MCPS, representing a major loss of expertise and institutional knowledge.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Autistic students often require specialized support tailored to their unique learning styles. Even well-intentioned educators who lack training in autism may struggle to provide effective support, as they may misinterpret what they are observing.
Reducing autism-specific staffing while expanding autism programs risks leaving schools without the expertise necessary to meet students’ needs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Superintendent’s Recommended Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget
Superintendent’s Recommended Special Education Staffing Plan Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget
Important Upcoming Dates:
• Board of Education Public Hearings: Thursday, January 15, and Tuesday, January 27, 2026
• Board of Education Board Work Sessions: January 20, and January 29, 2026
• Tentative Board of Education Adoption: Thursday, February 19, 2026
• Final Adoption: Expected Thursday, June 4, 2026
UNCERTAINTY AHEAD
It remains unclear how autism services will be delivered under the new structure or how schools or educators will access specialized support. These changes come at a time when MCPS projects continued growth in the number of students with autism and plans to expand its Classic Autism program into three new schools with 10-13 additional classes — raising urgent questions about capacity, training, and oversight.
CALL TO ACTION: STAY ENGAGED
• Monitor the MCPS budget process! Watch a short budget video primer created by xMinds to understand how decisions are made at MCPS and where advocacy matters most https://www.xminds.org/mcps_budget_fy26
• Express your concerns to MCPS about reductions to autism-specific services and staffing by providing your input on the budget process or asking a budget question.
• Contact members of the Board of Education and the County Council to share how these decisions impact your child.
Attend monthly Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) meetings: Next meeting Thursday, January 22 at 7 p.m.
AUSOM is sharing this alert created by xMinds (Partnership for Extraordinary Minds).
We will be partnering with xMinds and others to advocate on this issue.
