Assuming your child was placed in a special needs class on an Individual Education Plan (IEP), the services you noted were all available to be provided under that plan that you had to sign. If you disagreed with the placement or level of services provided, you had a legal option to request a due process hearing where you could present a case for different services. I am aware of school districts having to pay for placing students in more intense service settings as a result of a due process hearing.
I am not saying it is easy or inexpensive to go this route but it is the method by which elevated services are found to be necessary for the student and the school required to either pay to place the child appropriately or provide the services themselves.
Were you aware of this or did you choose not to pursue this due to the expense and time?
We were definitely aware of it, and we looked into hiring a lawyer. It would cost $5000 to retain a lawyer, and if we lost the case then we lose the money.
Most parents loose their battles with the school districts, and it takes a lot of time. You also have to repeat this process every single year.
It was pay a lawyer $5000 and take a risk or pay $7500 for a private school that we knew would do the job.