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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Esther Elbaum on Special Education Services and CSE Communication
4:53:57
·
145 sec
Esther Elbaum, speaking on behalf of many parents, shared her frustrating experience with the Committee on Special Education (CSE) regarding her visually impaired son's special education services. She highlighted issues with delayed processing of paperwork, threatening communications from the CSE, and concerns about potential changes to her son's service provider.
- The CSE took two months to process a submitted P4 form, while expecting parents to respond within 72 hours to their communications.
- Elbaum received alarming emails threatening the discontinuation of services if she didn't accept an assigned provider, despite not requesting changes.
- The testimony underscores the need for improved efficiency and communication from the CSE in implementing special education services.
Esther Elbaum
4:53:57
Good evening.
4:53:58
My name is Esther Elbaum, and I am speaking on behalf of many parents.
4:54:02
My son is visually impaired and has been recommended to receive set services at his private school.
4:54:08
My son's set provider emailed the completed p four form to the CSE on September 11th 2024.
4:54:14
After several emails back and forth, the provider was still waiting for confirmation that the p four was approved.
4:54:20
I was in shock at the email I received from the CSC on November 12, 2024.
4:54:25
It began as follows.
4:54:26
Dear parents, New York City Public Schools has arranged for a provider to work with your child at your child's school.
4:54:33
Please note that any family who does not accept the provider assigned to the school may not receive the offered set services for the 24, 25 school year.
4:54:43
I was very distressed.
4:54:44
Why were they informing me that my child would not get services?
4:54:47
The email continued.
4:54:49
While NYCPS must implement the services identified on a child's IESB, a parent does not have a right to a specific provider or to an enhanced rate for a provider.
4:54:59
Refusal to accept the assigned provider will result in your child not receiving the identified set service for the 24, 25 school year.
4:55:08
I was horrified and alarmed.
4:55:09
Did this mean that my son would have to change providers from one who knows his needs?
4:55:14
I was also confused as I had not requested an enhanced rate.
4:55:18
The email concluded.
4:55:19
A copy of the signed p fours must be returned to the CSE within 72 hours of receipt of this email.
4:55:25
Please note that any family who does not accept the provider assigned to the school may not receive sets for the 24, 25 school year.
4:55:33
I was confused and upset.
4:55:34
The CSC expected me to respond within 72 hours, yet they had not responded to the submitted p 4 in 2 months.
4:55:41
The COC was using its resources to send me threatening letters instead of processing our p 4 form.
4:55:47
On November 15, 2024, I was informed that the p 4 was finally processed.
4:55:53
3 weeks later, the dysfunctional CSE again sent me the same threatening email.
4:55:58
The CSE is responsible for the implementation of special education services.
4:56:02
It should not be threatening to take away those same services.
4:56:05
My son works hard to learn, and I work hard to support him.
4:56:09
I expect the CSE to work hard to fulfill its obligations and not make threats.
4:56:14
I expect it to process paperwork within the same time frames they expect from me.
4:56:18
So far, the CSE has not met these expectations.
4:56:21
Thank you.