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Q&A
DOE discusses need for more specialized programs to compete with non-public schools
1:31:06
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152 sec
Christina Foti, Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning, discusses the need for more specialized programs in the DOE:
- Specialized programs are seen as the biggest competitors to non-public schools
- There is a significant shortage of these programs within the DOE
- Foti projects a need for about 15,000 more seats in specialized programs
- Currently, there are 26,000-27,000 students in District 75, which serves students with significant disabilities
- The goal is to offer specialized programs to every incoming kindergarten student with special needs, approximately 15,000 per year
Christina Foti
1:31:06
That's right.
1:31:07
Our our specialized programs are our biggest competitors to these non public schools, and the problem is we don't have enough of them.
1:31:14
And so when we don't have spaces for kids, they parents say, I'm not placing them in DOE.
1:31:19
I'm going to this school.
1:31:20
And so
Althea Stevens
1:31:21
So how many more spaces do you think you need for these specialized programs?
1:31:24
And are and are there specific specialized programs that have longer wait list than others?
1:31:29
And then should we be concentrating on that and building those out?
Christina Foti
1:31:33
Yeah.
1:31:33
I mean, I would I would love to see us have, and this is a a projection, about 15,000 more seats
Althea Stevens
1:31:40
for students' programs.
1:31:42
Is did you know about they needed 15 more 1,000 seats?
1:31:44
And how
Rita Joseph
1:31:44
many seats do you have now?
Christina Foti
1:31:46
This is a projection.
1:31:47
I have we have 20 lot
Althea Stevens
1:31:48
of projections.
1:31:49
That's okay.
Rita Joseph
1:31:49
No.
1:31:49
That's okay.
1:31:50
We'll take it.
Christina Foti
1:31:50
Have 26 to 27000 students in in district 75.
1:31:56
District 75 was in was intended decades ago to be an alternative to Willowbrook for students who truly could not go to school.
1:32:03
District 75 is brilliant at doing that work.
Althea Stevens
1:32:07
District 75 a lot of words again.
1:32:08
Could you sorry.
1:32:10
I you already ate up my time.
Christina Foti
1:32:11
No.
1:32:12
I I understand.
1:32:13
It's it's complicated, and I really want to to a lot is getting conflated thus far in this hearing, and I'm trying to explain it in a way that distinguishes all the different topics we're talking about.
1:32:24
The the, District 75 has a lot of opportunity to serve kids that are leaving the the city to go to other states to receive services.
1:32:35
For example, kids with psychiatric needs.
1:32:39
We want district 75 to be the place locally where children can receive the services close to home that they need when they have the most significant disabilities.
1:32:49
So this is not about getting the rid rid of district 75.
1:32:52
In fact, it's the opposite.
1:32:54
It's about making sure the kids in d 75 that need to be there are the ones that that most need it.
1:32:58
That said, we need more kids in inclusive programs.
1:33:02
So right now, I would say that we have 4,000 5,000 seats for students in specialized programs.
1:33:08
We have another 33100 where families applied, and they want those those seats.
1:33:15
Now if we were to just look at our incoming kindergarten classes, we have about 15,000 kids that come into our kindergarten every year.
1:33:24
I would like to offer specialized programs to every one of those those children, that are coming in.
1:33:30
And so that's a very, you know, imperfect projection, but the dream here would be to offer those