Looking beyond Weast's 'feel good initiatives'

"Expanding early childhood programs, funding smaller classes and providing all-day kindergarten are feel-good initiatives that have enticed Montgomery County politicians to jump on the Jerry D. Weast bandwagon," Lyda Astrove of Rockville writes in the Washington Post.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Weast, the superintendent of the Montgomery County public schools, hasn't shown exceptional leadership with regard to the county's exceptional students: the more than 17,000 children who receive special education services.

"These students haven't shared in the gains, probably because increases in special education funding have gone to cover only enrollment growth and have not been used to provide meaningful improvements to services."