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Q&A
June 1st application deadline for non-public school special education services
2:49:20
·
4 min
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about the June 1st application deadline for non-public school students seeking special education services. DOE representatives explain the reasons behind enforcing the deadline, the number of families affected, and efforts to provide services to those who met the deadline.
- 17,000 families met the deadline, while 3,000 missed it
- DOE committed to providing a pathway to services for families who missed the deadline
- After-school and weekend sites were established to offer services
Rita Joseph
2:49:20
This is from council member wrestler.
2:49:22
He wanted to ask about the abrupt decision to end in 4th July 1st application deadline for students attending non public schools, it has been reported that 3,000 non public school families missed the June deadline and were denied services.
2:49:35
17,000 families reportedly met the deadline.
2:49:38
The MMR indicate that there were nearly 50,000 children receiving special education services last year.
2:49:45
Could you clarify why there were only 20,000 students children reportedly, subject to the June 1st letter?
2:49:53
How many children in public non public schools are receiving special education services this year?
UNKNOWN
2:50:00
Thank you, chair.
2:50:02
Our enforcement of the June 1st deadline as our general counsel had mentioned was related to, a decision from the state to make sure that we were managing the growing or the explosion of due process litigation in New York City.
2:50:16
The 17,000 number represent those families that chose to engage us.
2:50:23
They do not have to opt in for equitable services.
2:50:27
You have a deadline and you can tell us whether or not you like to receive services.
2:50:31
17,000 of those families said, yes, I'm continuing my child in their private or religious school and I would like equitable services.
2:50:38
Those families who made the decision not to tell us, that they were seeking services, that's their choice.
2:50:44
For those 3,000 that missed the deadline, we, made that public commitment in September to make sure that children were going to be served.
2:50:54
We recognized after making that commitment that the continued litigation in this space required us to produce that waiver.
2:51:02
While we wanted to provide a pathway to service, we had to, have this requirement for the waiver to avoid continued litigation in this space.
2:51:11
As was mentioned earlier, we've done everything in our power to provide a pathway to service for these families, both the families that, you know, provided us with the notice by June 1st and those who provided it after June 1st.
2:51:24
That includes our after school and weekend sites.
2:51:26
It includes the hiring of our itinerant special education teachers who are ready, willing, and able to serve children in non public schools.
2:51:34
They're available to families that did let us know by June 1st and those who let us know after June 1st.
2:51:41
In addition, we, recognize the need to make sure that we are in communication with schools and our families.
2:51:49
So as was mentioned, the information on the website, for the upcoming school year, was imperative.
2:51:56
But beyond that, we have mailed information emailed over 30,000 families with information.
2:52:05
And in addition to that, we're in the process of hiring educational administrators to engage in the consultation process, which is under law, we're required to engage with schools and discuss their students in their buildings.
2:52:18
This will give us, an opportunity to discuss those students and where families are, where their families are, and whether or not they have an understanding as to whether those families intend to submit, notice by the June 1st deadline, which is critical.
2:52:36
But for the families that haven't engaged, it's February.
2:52:40
So if there are 20 +1000 families, they haven't reached out to New York City public schools to let us know that they would like services this current school year.
2:52:50
And we are now pivoting to plan for the upcoming school year so that our teachers are available, and we can let non public schools and families know that our teachers are available.
2:53:00
And we'd like to, if we can, if funding is available, further expand our after school and weekend sites.
2:53:06
It's a pathway to service that we've never had
Rita Joseph
2:53:09
before.
2:53:10
Well, thank you for pivoting for that, and all of a sudden you had to re reimagine that.
2:53:15
But,
Liz Vladeck
2:53:16
Chair, I I'm sorry.
2:53:17
May I add one other thing?
2:53:18
I just since this is a public forum, I wanna make sure I don't think we've said very clearly.
2:53:23
June 1st letters can be submitted starting now.
2:53:27
January 1st is when June 1st letters can come in.
2:53:30
As I said earlier, this is not a complicated process and we've put the guidance up.
2:53:35
I also want to acknowledge council member Ressler had a question about how did we come to this decision and I would just refer him back to, you are giving us the opportunity to explain that earlier today.
Rita Joseph
2:53:47
I'll I'll send that to him.
2:53:49
So I'm continuing with his line of questioning.
2:53:51
He said, following backlash from June 1st deadline, DOE issued a new waiver letter to families.
2:53:56
Under the waiver, families did not have the right to file a case with new enhanced rate equitable services.
2:54:01
Is that correct?