PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tammy Fried on Special Education Services for Private School Students
4:56:24
ยท
178 sec
Tammy Fried shared her frustrating experience with the NYC Department of Education's special education services when transferring her son from public to private school. She highlighted the challenges faced due to missed deadlines and bureaucratic processes, resulting in her son losing access to needed services for a full semester.
- Fried's son Jack, who previously had an IEP, was denied services after switching to a Jewish private school due to a missed deadline she was unaware of.
- The transition between IEP and IESP (Individualized Education Services Program) led to confusion and gaps in service provision.
- Fried had to sign a waiver foregoing makeup services for the missed semester to expedite future service delivery.
- She emphasized the need for better communication and flexibility in the system to ensure children receive necessary services regardless of school type.
Tammy Fried
4:56:24
Good evening.
4:56:25
My name is Tammy Fried.
4:56:27
My son, Jack, is a bright, excuse me, kind, inquisitive 7 year old.
4:56:32
In 202324, he was in 1st grade in public school.
4:56:37
He had an IEP and received speech, occupational physical therapy, sex, and counseling.
4:56:44
For this year, my husband and I decided to send him to a Jewish school to learn about his heritage.
4:56:50
We knew the transition would be tough, but it would be slightly easier because Jack already had support services in place.
4:56:57
1st week of August 2024, I sent emails to the committee on special education requesting to change Jack's IEP to an IESP.
4:57:07
I received a polite reply that I missed the June 1st deadline for submitting the parental notice of intent so Jack will get no services.
4:57:15
I was shocked.
4:57:16
It was the first time I heard of this deadline.
4:57:18
I panicked and was confused.
4:57:20
I then learned there was a June 1st deadline for parents of students with an IESP to request the services for the coming school year, but Jack had an IEP on June 1st.
4:57:32
For an IEP, that wasn't I wasn't required on that date to submit a PNI.
4:57:38
How could the CSE deny my son's services for failing to meet a deadline I wasn't obligated to meet?
4:57:44
So Jack received no services from the DOE for the 1st semester.
4:57:49
The transition to school was challenging.
4:57:51
It would have been helpful for Jack to have counseling and speech to help him navigate a new school, acclimate to the social structure, and facilitate making friends.
4:58:01
He's now a full semester behind where he would have been had he had services this fall.
4:58:07
This January, I met with the DOE to get the IESP.
4:58:12
I was advised to sign a waiver to forego the prior semester services so Jack will not get makeup services for the 4 months of missed services.
4:58:20
The way it was explained to me, signing the waiver and giving up a claim for the 1st semester services was the quickest way to get the services up and running.
4:58:29
I signed the waiver yesterday.
4:58:32
This morning, I received an email at 10:07 AM from my CSE about the June 1st deadline for the 2025, 26 school year because now my child has an IESP, so thank you.
4:58:46
But I never got anything for 20, 24, 25.
4:58:52
I learned there are many children who are in the same boat as Jack or parents who changed to private schools after the June 1st deadline.
4:59:00
Children who qualify for services to get through the school year shouldn't suffer without them because of a notice that the parent had no reason to send.
4:59:09
Rules being applied retroactively just make no sense.
4:59:12
New York City shouldn't deny the services to these children.
4:59:16
We just need to do better and figure it out.
4:59:18
We need to help New York children reach their goals wherever they're schooled.
4:59:22
Thank you.