PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Maggie Moroff, Senior Special Education Policy Coordinator of Action for Reform in Special Education (ARISE) Coalition
3:22:25
·
3 min
Maggie Moroff, representing the ARISE Coalition, testified about issues and recommendations for improving school bus transportation services for students with disabilities in NYC. She highlighted problems with routing, staffing, and parent communication, emphasizing the importance of reliable transportation for students with IEPs.
- Routing issues: Extended periods without school attendance, families forced to transport children despite IEP mandates, and long bus rides
- Staffing concerns: Shortages, inadequate training, and failure to arrange mandated accommodations like paraprofessionals and nurses
- Communication problems: Confusing processes for requesting specialized transportation and getting help when issues arise
Maggie Moroff
3:22:25
I will do my absolute best.
3:22:27
Good afternoon.
3:22:27
Thank you, chairs, Joseph, and Juan.
3:22:29
I really appreciate chance to talk about this issue today, I've submitted longer testimony.
3:22:35
I'm doing a shortcut.
3:22:36
I'm Maggie Moore, if I coordinate the rise coalition, parents, advocates, educators, academics.
3:22:42
We've been working together since 2008.
3:22:45
On systemic reform issues around special education.
3:22:49
In a system where the DOE still places many students with IEPs in schools outside their neighborhood, busing that works seamlessly is essential.
3:22:59
Our members have, as Molly pointed out, identified several points in family's experiences with busing that are really right for improvement, and we've made those recommendations to end up discussing them with NYCPs.
3:23:13
They send to around 3 things, around routing, staffing, and parent communication.
3:23:17
Really briefly, routing issues can keep students from attending school for extended periods of time.
3:23:23
They can force families to transport their children directly despite IEP mandates, or they can leave students on buses for hours.
3:23:33
Children with IEP busing are also unable, as you or yourself pointed out, to attend after school and weekend activities, We agree with Mister Riesburg that the city needs to rebid the bus contracts as soon as possible.
3:23:51
And when they do that, they need to ensure that companies can provide routes that get students to school on time and safely and require those companies to take those students beyond typical school hours.
3:24:07
A large number of cases that we see involve staffing concerns, shortages, inadequate training, and failure to arrange.
3:24:14
And this is really important because we heard this earlier today for para professionals and nurses as mandated on busting accommodations.
3:24:22
Then the nursing and the para shortages are not to be ignored.
3:24:26
They are significant, and they keep kids from getting on schools all the time.
3:24:32
And I do need to say on a personal note, it is not about parents deciding they don't like a nurse.
3:24:41
That's me.
3:24:41
That's not for a rise.
3:24:42
Sorry.
3:24:46
We recommended here incentivizing employment in all shortage areas around busing and providing mandatory trainings.
3:24:53
We heard a little bit about the trainings that the DOE is stepping up earlier.
3:24:57
We will be watching those really closely.
3:25:00
Lastly, the process for requesting specialized transportation remains confusing to families as does the question of where to turn and how to help how to get help when things go wrong.
3:25:13
Technology is failing me.
3:25:16
We have recommended that the New New York City public schools clarified the communication channel for families who continue to be bounced from school to bus company to OPT's customer service line.
3:25:27
And that they provide families with contracts, with contacts that can make changes and provide support, there'll be 30 more seconds, that they clarify timelines and procedures for requesting busing accommodations, and that they make certain that all families have us to busy information through their next accounts.
3:25:45
I heard mister Benson testifying that non public schools can give those numbers to families.
3:25:51
That's not our experience either, so they need to get that word out.
3:25:55
We've made other recommendations around rideshare.
3:25:59
The DOE has acted on some of those and made things a little bit clearer.
3:26:03
Just really, really briefly, my other job is that I am a senior special ed policy coordinator at advocates for children.
3:26:11
And I need to tell you that just today, I escalate in 3 more busing concerns.
3:26:16
So it is very, very present and very, very active.
3:26:20
Everything else I wanna say is in my testimony.
3:26:22
Thank you.
