Special education teachers in the Honolulu District are getting paid to make up lost furlough time.
The Department of Education mandated all special education teachers to come up with ways to make up the lost time.
But special education teachers who teach in other districts say they are unaware of opportunities teachers in the Honolulu District are getting.
Eunice Brown is a special education teacher at Liholiho Elementary who teaches three to five-year-olds.
Last October Brown was informed by the Honolulu District to come up with a plan for her students on how to make up the lost services due to furloughs.
"My concern is we were mandated as special education teachers to come up with a plan to make up services missed 34 in special education or general education," said special education teacher Eunice Brown.
Brown says once the IEP, or Individualized Education Plan, is approved, she works on either a Saturday, Sunday or waiver day to work with the student, and is paid $35 an hour.
"My concern is what about education for all the kids, not just the special ed kids, especially the GT kids with all that potential," said Brown.
Department of Education Acting Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe says the student's IEP varies depending on what is discussed between the teacher and parent.
"Ultimately the children are entitled to the services now, some of those services don't require the services of a teacher," said Nozoe.
Nozoe says the DOE mandate was initiated for all school districts, but KHON2 has confirmed only teachers in the Honolulu district are getting the opportunity to make up lost time and lost pay.
Regular teachers in the Honolulu District and special needs teachers in other districts say it's not fair.
"I understand the general education teacher might have concerns, how come them and not me, but we also have to be really cognizant that extra children need extra help and extra service," said Nozoe.
Nozoe says if special education teachers in other districts don't know about the mandate, then it would be "a problem."
The Honolulu District includes schools from Kalihi to east Oahu.
