secret service

the grass is always greener
outside institutional walls

i never thought i'd say
i miss IEPs* and ARDs
(okay, maybe not ARDs**)

i fled a land of red tape,
slow impact, mountains of shredded paper
being legally bound to mediocrity
and awoke in a spineless environment of
hush-hush contradictions
where i am to leave no paper trail
but disseminate sensitive information
via secret, psychic code

my goal is to tear down the wall
of feared stigmas and passive assistance
to declare special services need not be secret services
to map a balance between too much and not enough
ultimately, to do a good job
for the liberation of all students,
whatever their labels.

*IPG = Individualized Education Plan, a legally required document for each student eligible for Special Education services in the US public education system
**ARD = Admission/Retention/Dismissal meetings featuring discussion of the IEP, goals, progress, testing accommodations and other delightful data