REMARKS
Current state of special education services in New York City
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ยท
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Council Member Joseph presents data and concerns about the current state of special education services in NYC, highlighting service gaps and disparities.
- Cites statistics on students not receiving mandated services from the previous school year
- Mentions improvements in service delivery but emphasizes ongoing challenges
- Discusses disparities in service provision across different demographics and boroughs
Rita Joseph
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The committee has held a hearing on this topic in 2022.
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At the time during the 2021, 2022 school year, 13,800 public school students in kindergarten to 12th grade did not receive the IEP recommendations for related services, such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or counseling.
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And 9,800 preschoolers with disabilities did not even receive one of their mandated special education services.
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While it appears that there has been some improvement in the delivery of services to students with IEPs since 1,000 are missing out on out on the support they need to learn and thrive as the cost of due process claims has dramatically risen.
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Students with disabilities, a large and growing portion of public school students population are among the most vulnerable students in the system, yet the city continues to fail them.
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Many students wait for months for an appropriate classroom, teacher, or therapist, or just never receive their mandated support, leading to chronic absences.
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Moreover, there are significant discrepancies in provision of special education services in predominantly black and Hispanic as well as low income school districts across the 5 boroughs.
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Additionally, a significant number of preschool special education students who are at a critical age in development are not receiving all of their IEP mandated services.