527 E Main St, Maple Shade, NJ 08052

I moved to this district hoping for a decent special education system and a decent education for my children. Unfortunately, our experience has been awful.My children were originally in a special-needs classroom and were then moved into an integrated classroom based on the Child Study Team’s recommendation. While the staff has been kind, the educational experience has simply not been strong enough for children with their needs.Both children were promoted to second grade, yet neither is performing anywhere near second-grade level. Both tested around a kindergarten level in reading and writing through their home school program. These are 7-year-old children.We have always been involved parents. My spouse is a stay-at-home mom who maintained constant communication with the school and stayed involved in their education. We are not parents who believe our children are perfect or that every educational challenge is the school's fault. We understand our children have significant needs and require additional support.What we cannot accept is watching our children fall further behind while being moved forward academically as if the problem doesn't exist.A kind staff is appreciated, but kindness alone does not equal a strong special education program or an appropriate educational placement.We moved to this district specifically because we believed our children would receive a decent education and appropriate special education support. Instead, we have been deeply disappointed.Honestly, we are thankful we decided **not to buy a home here**, because after this experience, we would not feel comfortable making that kind of long-term commitment to this district.Families considering this district for children with special education needs should do their research and ask very specific questions about placements, services, academic progress, and what happens when a placement isn't working.