Parents of special needs students are worried they won't be getting the help they need after cuts to the education budget are complete.
About 10 to 15 percent of Alberta's students are considered special needs.
That works out to about 17,000 kids in Calgary.
Breanna Leziert, 8, a Grade 2 student, has Pervasive Developmental Disorder, part of the autism spectrum
"It's hard to pay attention with everyone around me, it really makes it hard for my brain," she says.
Pam Leziert, Breanna's mother, says because her daughter is so high functioning it is easy for her to get lost.
Leziert points out that as funding decreases, kids like Breanna will fall further and further behind, making special needs student funding a problem for everyone.
"The teacher can't teach because of the disruption of the kids who aren't getting the support that they need. It does affect everybody," she says.
Another Calgary child, four-year-old Joe, has autism and many more needs.
Joe's mother, Carmen Sieb, says that because of all the services he requires, she doubts he will ever end up in the public system.
"If he's not going to be given those proper supports and services he needs to function in a public school system, we have no choice to look at the private system."
The Calgary School Board says that budget cuts are not aimed at any particular group and will affect everyone.
"All of our children will experience some changes in the services they get next year," says Pat Cochrane Chair of the Calgary School Board.
Research shows that students who feel unsuccessful at school are more likely to drop out and special needs students are at a much higher risk of not finishing their education.
