latest news
The Federal House of Representatives approved a bill to restrict the use of forcible restraint and seclusion, in which children are held down, drugged or isolated in a locked room to control their behavior. Read about it here.
Posted 03/05/10
See the New York Times article on resources for parents of students with learning disabilities from Saturday, Febraury 27.
Posted 03/01/10
Parents of students with disabilities are extremely concerned about the effect the City’s school closings and program re-locations will have on their children. To learn more see Maura Walz's pieces and all the related comments on Gotham Schools here and here, and read a statement from Advocates for Children here.
Posted 02/24/10
To see analyses of the Department of Education's plans to reform special education see Gotham Schools, the New York Daily News, the Staten Island Advance, and the New York Post.
Posted 02/04/10
A new study done by Aaron Pallas, a professor at Columbia University’s Teachers College and Jennifer Jennings, an assistant professor at New York University, shows that small high schools, particularly those that have replaced large high schools formerly housed at the same sites, don’t always enroll the neediest students including those with special education needs. See here and here for more information about the study.
Posted 09/23/09
The beginning of the school year got off to a rocky start for some students with disabilities and their families who depend on specialized bus services to get to school on time. See NY1 reporter Lindsey Whitton Christ’s piece and Rachel Monahan and Meridith Kolodner’s article in the Daily News.
Posted 09/22/09
The New York State Board of Regents voted on July 27, 2009 to elect Dr. David Milton Steiner as New York State Education Commissioner and President of the University of the State of New York. Read the press release from the Regents here.
Posted 07/28/09
On July 3, Chancellor Klein created a new cabinet level position at the Department of Education. He appointed Laura Rodriquez as Chief Achievement Officer for Special Education and English Language Learners. That same day, Garth Harries provided the Chancellor with a memorandum listing recommendations regarding New York City’s special education system. The Chancellor has made those recommendations public and is requesting comment by mid-August. To view Harries’ recommendations and learn more about Ms. Rodriquez, go to DOE’s press release here. To view the ARISE Coalition response to Mr. Harries' recommendations see here.
Posted 07/13/09
On June 8 the Department of Education made known that Garth Harries, the Senior Coordinator for Special Education, will also be leaving at the end of the month to become an Assistant Superintendent of Public Schools in New Haven Connecticut. See the DOE's press release here.
Posted 06/08/09
Linda Wernikoff, the Executive Director for Teaching & Learning Special Education Initiatives at the New York City Department of Education, has announced that she is stepping down at the end of the school year. For more information see the Gotham Schools article, “City’s top special ed official will leave at school year’s end.” In addition, Dr. Marcia Lyles, the Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, under whose auspices the Office of Special Education Initiatives operates. Dr. Lyles will be leaving to serve as Superintendent of the Delaware Christina School District. See "City’s top educator has been offered Delaware superintendency", and the DOE's press release for more detail.
Posted 05/20/09
A report released by the Public Advocates office on April 30, 2009 analyzing NYC’s high school graduation and discharge trends from 2000-2007 found that the NYC high school discharge system may be artificially increasing the city’s gradation rate by excluding at-risk students, including those with disabilities, who leave school without diplomas. The report contains several disturbing findings regarding the discharge of students receiving special education services highlighting the fact that the special education discharge rate for students in self-contained and District 75 classes has increased over the years. The report can be downloaded here.
Posted 04/30/09
The New York City Department of Education has announced another full-scale review of the special education system. Stay tuned for more information on this topic as the DOE plans develop and the advocacy community weighs in.
Posted 01/22/09 by Andrew Tirrell
See Philissa Cramer's series of entries on this issue.
See The New York Teacher for a description of Garth Harries’ appearance before the Citywide Council on Special Education.
Read testimony regarding this issue submitted to the City Council by ARISE Coalition members.
Over the past few months the ARISE Coalition and Parents for Inclusive Education (PIE) have sponsored a series of speak outs for parents and caregivers of students with special needs in each of the New York City boroughs. Parents, caregivers, grandparents, concerned educators, and community activists came in large numbers to the forums. Despite a few positive stories about concerned and dedicated teachers and principals they had met along the way, they also told stories about their children being left out of school-wide activities and programs, and a lack of progress in general. They painted pictures of being treated as 2nd class citizens, experiencing a lack of sensitivity at the school and district levels regarding their children, low expectations for their children, and segregation of youth with special needs from their general education peers. The speakers were convinced that their children were being left behind while the general education population made strides. Thanks to all of you who came and spoke as well as all who came to support others from the communities who we support. We'll be in touch soon about steps in response to the speak-outs.
Posted 01/16/09 by Andrew Tirrell
Click
here ,
here and
here to read more about these efforts
The New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief has issued a report to the Governor that includes some recommendations we find troublesome as they pertain to special education. Governor Patterson has not acted yet on the report. No new legislation has been introduced. Please check back on the website for further developments with regard to the report and any advocacy efforts around the recommendations.
Posted 10/29/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the report
New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. calls on the Schools Chancellor to immediately review its transportation policies to end the "confusion and mismanagement."
Posted 10/29/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the press release
Rachel Monahan of the Daily News reports on a DOE attempt to use a copy of an old evaluation to satisfy a parent's request for a new one.
Posted 10/20/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the article
Rachel Monahan of the Daily News reports on continuing special education issues at Bed-Stuy's Frederick Douglass Academy IV.
Posted 10/14/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the article
Meredith Kolodner of the Daily News follows up with a new article regarding special education bus routes.
Posted 9/16/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the article
Elizabeth Green of the New York Sun writes about the shortage of placements for New York students with disabilities.
Posted 9/16/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the article
New York City Public Advocate investigates special education placement shortage.
Posted 9/9/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the article
Meredith Kolodner of the Daily News and Amisha Padnani of the Staten Island Advance write about cuts in special education bus routes.
Posted 8/22/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the Daily News article
Click here to read the Staten Island Advance article
The Coucil on Great City Schools 2008 Report on improving its District 75 programs.
Posted 8/05/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the Council's report
Click here to see the ARISE Coalition's letter to Chancellor Klein regarding the report.
ARISE Coalition's response posted 9/30/09
Yoav Gonen of the New York Post writes about the DOE's proposal to cut the number of District Family Advocates.
Posted 8/04/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the article
New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum's Report about the Inadequacy of the 311 system for Parents of Children with Special Needs.
Posted 7/08/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the report
Results of ELA and Math Testing of Students with Disabilities Released.
Posted 7/08/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to see the results
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli Issues Report Citing DOE Delays.
Posted 7/07/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Click here to read the report
Chancellor Klein Announces New Special Education Service Delivery Report For All Schools.
Posted 06/17/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Full Article...
Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced the availability of a new Special Education Service Delivery Report for every school that serves students with disabilities. The report, which is publicly available on each school's Department of Education Web site, provides information about the school's Special Education enrollment, timeliness in evaluating students with special education needs, and provision of special education services. The report brings increased accountability and transparency to schools and gives families comprehensive information about the level of available services.
"The report is an important tool for school leaders, parents, and all New Yorkers," Chancellor Klein said. "It gives an exact, public accounting of a school's Special Education data and indicates how well the school is integrating students with disabilities into mainstream classrooms. The reports are evidence of our increased commitment and accountability for improving outcomes for students with disabilities."
The report will be updated annually with information on six issues related to Special Education, including:
- Enrollment: The report shows the number of special education students on a school's register, the number of special education students who are also English Language Learners, and the amount of time Special Education students spend with their non-disabled peers during the school day.
- Timely evaluation: The report shows the number of school-age initial evaluations and re-evaluations that have been completed within mandated timelines since the start of the school year.
- Provision of special education services: The report shows the total number of school-age students recommended, awaiting, and receiving Special Education services.
- Movement of student with disabilities to a new educational setting: The report shows the number of students that have moved to a "least restrictive environment," i.e., students with disabilities who spend the majority of the school day in general education classes.
- Initial referral rate: The report shows the rate at which students are being evaluated for the first time for consideration for special education services.
- Declassification referral rate: The report shows the rate at which special education students are determined to no longer require Special Education services.
- The Special Education reports were developed by the DOE's Office of Special Education Initiatives in consultation with Integrated Service Center staff, school support organizations, and principals. The report reflects service status as of May 2008.
- The Special Education Service Delivery Reports can be accessed at each school's Web site. To find a school go to: schools.nyc.gov
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Delays for Special Education Middle Schoolers.
Posted 6/16/08 by Andrew Tirrell
Full Article...
In the days since middle-school placements were announced, we've heard repeatedly from parents of kids in CTT and self-contained special ed classes: Some students haven't received seats in middle school, even though they will graduate from grade school in a few days.
"Special education students will receive their placements this week," according to the DOE's Andy Jacob, who says that "a more comprehensive approach" to placement, along with making sure needed services are in place, cost the process "a few additional days" (which others might describe as a week or more, but never mind).
Elementary school guidance counselors were told that the special-ed students' placements would follow mainstream-ed matches, according to the DOE. Whether and when parents were similarly informed -- and if not, why not -- remains unclear.
Parents report that there's a two-tier approach to middle school admissions, and that special-ed kids are treated as "second-class citizens." It's hard to believe that's actually true, but easy to see how parents, waiting for middle-school news and wanting the best for their children, can think it possible.
Readers, please keep us posted on when your special-needs children receive middle school placements. Also, we'd love to know how the school your child is offered compares with the choices ranked on the application. Thanks as ever for your feedback.
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