Superintendent Hayes reflected on a rounds visit to a neighboring district that focused on observing different programs aimed at supporting students who receive special education services. The observers had shared concerns about the low level of academic rigor in selfcontained classrooms and raised this as an area for the hosts to consider. Her reflection illustrates how the visit helped her think both about the special education services observed as well as the challenges she faced in her district (see Figure 1.2 earlier in this chapter). Superintendent Hayes began her reflection by speaking to the host and then shifted to her own work:

You [the host school] have to calibrate where you see you are in the process, recognizing that all schools are struggling with trying to bridge the gap, particularly between special education and general education students. If anyone of us knew exactly how to do that, we would have done it a long time ago.

We’re all dealing with this challenge. When the network came to my district, we were in the same place relative to focusing on special education. I share the pit-of-thestomach feeling because I walked out after that visit with this question of rigor. One concern we have is the Common Core State Standards are high, and some kids are [not able to meet them currently]. How do we fill in the gaps while raising them up to meet the standards? That is the challenge we all face.

–Dr. Margaret Hayes, Former Superintendent, Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District

“Sharing the Pit-of-the-Stomach Feeling about Systemic Inequities“