Parents of children with disabilities are celebrating a major win after Arlington Public Schools announced it will keep its Integration Station program in place for the 2025-26 school year.
The decision comes after weeks of strong public outcry against a proposed budget cut that would have ended the program. Integration Station serves preschool-aged children with disabilities, offering early intervention and special needs support in a general education setting. It operates in partnership with The Children’s School.
Erin Turner, whose 3-and-a-half-year-old son Alex joined the program in January, said the impact has already been profound.
“He’s making progress with physical and speech therapy in a way that’s really meaningful for us,” Turner said. “He hasn’t started potty training yet, but now he can use words to express himself. That’s a huge step.”
The school district had previously considered cutting the program to reduce costs. A consulting firm suggested Arlington could save around $1 million by reviewing how services at Integration Station are delivered and switching to a new model.
However, in an email sent to families on April 9, Arlington Public Schools confirmed that no changes will be made to Integration Station for the next school year. Instead, the district will form internal and external review committees this fall to assess all PreK programs in a more comprehensive way.
Turner said she’s relieved but hopes this isn’t just a temporary fix.
“We’re really thrilled that they’ve changed their mind for next year and that they’re forming a working group,” she said. “Our goal is not just to save the program for one year. We want it to be available to kids in the future too.”
As part of Integration Station, Alex attends class with 12 general education students and up to eight students who have individualized education programs (IEPs). He receives therapy sessions on-site during the school day.
“Because of the way the program is structured, my son isn’t singled out,” Turner explained. “All the kids are building communication skills, even if some, like Alex, need more focused support.”
Other parents shared similar stories. Amanda Villapando said her 4-year-old son Leo was terrified of school at the start of the year. He would hide under the bed and refuse to go. But after transferring to Integration Station, everything changed.
“Now he asks if there’s school on weekends. He loves it that much,” she said.
Villapando praised the efforts of parents who spoke out and shared their stories with the school board.
“We showed how important Integration Station is, both for the children it serves and for the broader Arlington community,” she said.
She also warned that while the recent decision is a step forward, the future of the program is still not guaranteed.
“Next year’s budget isn’t done yet,” Villapando said. “Until it’s officially adopted, we have to keep paying attention.”
The Arlington School Board is expected to vote on the final budget for fiscal year 2026 on May 1.
