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Public Advocate highlights concerns about special education and preschool services
0:09:03
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44 sec
Public Advocate Williams expresses serious concerns about the city's failure to provide adequate special education services, particularly for preschoolers with disabilities. He emphasizes the legal obligation to provide these services and the current shortfall in meeting these requirements.
- About 450 children with disabilities are without required special education preschool seats
- The preliminary budget does not renew $55 million in funding for new classrooms
- Over 14,400 preschoolers with disabilities did not receive at least one legally required service last school year
Jumaane Williams
0:09:03
New York City is commonly failing many of its students with disabilities particular preschoolers with disabilities.
0:09:09
Though the mayor has promised a special education preschool seat for every child who needs one and is legally entitled to one, it is yet to materialize for many children with disabilities.
0:09:18
There are about 450 children who are sitting at home instead of in a classroom where they will receive the support and services they need.
0:09:23
Though NYC public schools confirmed this number, the preliminary budget does not renew $55,000,000 in funding for new classrooms.
0:09:30
It is important to reiterate that these seats are legally required and students rights are being violated every day that they are not receiving special education services.
0:09:37
Last year, than 14,400 preschoolers with disabilities ended the school year without ever receiving at least one of the types of services the city was legally required to provide and that's just unacceptable.