PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Maggie Moroff, Coordinator of ARISE Coalition and Senior Special Education Policy Coordinator at Advocates for Children
4:21:58
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Maggie Moroff, representing the ARISE Coalition, testified about systemic changes needed in New York City's special education system. She outlined recommendations developed by the coalition to improve services and outcomes for students with disabilities.
- Key recommendations include providing mandated special education services, improving school bus service, completing timely evaluations, increasing parent engagement, and making schools more accessible.
- ARISE Coalition views these issues as equity concerns, noting that one in five NYC public school students has an IEP, but many still don't receive required supports.
- The coalition's recommendations were based on member conversations, parent surveys, and a speak-out event held in October.
Maggie Moroff
4:21:58
Good afternoon.
4:21:59
Sorry.
4:22:00
My name is Maggie Morof.
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I coordinate the Arise Coalition.
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I also work as the senior special education policy coordinator at Advocates for Children.
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Today I'm testifying on behalf of the over 120 member organizations and individual parents and professionals that make up the Arise membership.
4:22:19
Since 2008, an ever growing Arise membership has been advocating for systemic changes to New York City's special ed system.
4:22:27
Our goal is improved day to day experiences and long term outcomes for over 200,000, yeah.
4:22:34
200,000 students with disabilities in the city.
4:22:38
You'll be hearing from others from the coalition today, and their roles as parents, caregivers, and advocates.
4:22:43
We have several on this panel right now.
4:22:45
We'll see the issues faced, we see the issues faced by our students and their families as real equity issues, with one out of every 5, NY CPS students having an IEP, and far too many of them, as we heard earlier this afternoon, still not getting all the supports and services they require to learn and thrive.
4:23:06
And their parents are still getting the run around when they speak up for their own students.
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We recently developed a new set of recommendations following conversations with members, a survey of parents and caregivers, a speak out for parents and caregivers in October.
4:23:23
To that end, I'd like to use my time today to really briefly outline those recommendations.
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I during the DOE's testimony, I emailed a copy to several of the people who stayed to hear from the public this afternoon.
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So in short, our recommendations focus on the following areas.
4:23:46
Providing the special education instruction and related services needed to close gaps in delivering mandated programs and services for preschool and school age students.
4:23:56
Getting our youth with disabilities to school safely and on time by making major improvements to bus service, completing timely evaluations so students can get the services they need, providing comprehensive opportunities for all parents and caregivers, including those who have students with IEPs to engage meaningfully in their school communities, enabling students with IEPs to participate fully in after school and weekend activities at their schools by providing the bus service mandated
Althea Stevens
4:24:23
on their individual IEPs,
Maggie Moroff
4:24:23
increasing funding mandated on their individual IEPs, increasing funding in the capital plan for school accessibility projects to make at least 50% of the school buildings fully accessible over the next 5 years, and supporting students with disabilities in preparing for life beyond high school.
4:24:41
All of those are things we heard touched on earlier.
4:24:44
Thank you for your time today and for the opportunity to speak with you.
4:24:47
We appreciate you in these hearings so much, and we'd be happy to answer any questions.