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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Paulette Healy, Disability Advocate and Parent Leader from Coalition for Equitable Education Funding
7:42:56
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160 sec
Paulette Healy, a disability advocate and parent of two children with disabilities, testifies before the City Council to request baseline funding for essential education programs in light of state budget cuts. She emphasizes the need for support for students with disabilities and mental health services.
- Requests $70 million for preschool special education services, $17.5 million for academic intervention supports, funding for the mental health continuum, and $3.7 million for in-school mental health clinics
- Criticizes the lack of inclusion of District 75 students in the Future Ready program
- Urges the City Council to invest in public schools and resist efforts to privatize education
Paulette Healy
7:42:56
Hi.
7:42:57
My name is Paulette Healy.
7:42:58
I'm a disability advocate, a parent leader with the Coalition for Equitable Education Funding, and I'm raising two kids with disabilities in high school.
7:43:07
And I'm here again today, Chair Joseph and Chair Brennan, for another round of hearings to ask for baseline funding for essential programs.
7:43:15
Crucial supports like the Mental Health Continuum, Promise NYC, Summit Programming, and Restorative Justice are on the chopping block due to the egregious divestment Governor Hochul burdened New York City within this year's state budget.
7:43:31
So we need our city council to step up and fill those gaps.
7:43:35
On behalf of my disability community, I am asking our partners in city council to baseline 70,000,000 for preschool special education services evaluations and supports, 17,500,000.0 for academic intervention supports for students struggling to read.
7:43:50
Sorry I lost my spot, million for the mental health continuum and 3,700,000.0 to enhance supports at our school in our in school mental health clinics.
7:44:03
Also it's worth noting if future ready is asking for a bigger investment they need to do better incorporating those opportunities for our d 75 students.
7:44:12
Over a hundred schools and only two d 75 schools in future ready, I know you called them out on that chair Joseph but come on.
7:44:20
Like our students with disabilities cannot continue being an afterthought.
7:44:24
They cannot afford to wait for their mandated services to start or a special education pre k seat or for a bus route to be assigned to them or for an evaluation to complete their transition plan before they move on to college.
7:44:37
Lucas is looking at colleges next year.
7:44:40
So that's and you met Lucas when he was in third grade.
7:44:45
And so and you and I haven't aged a day.
7:44:50
So if our city can't see the future within our students, then we don't see a future at all.
7:44:56
And I implore our partners and city council to stand up for New York City families and baseline these programs that have literally saved lives including my own child who testified earlier today who wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the mental health supports and interventions.
7:45:11
And I say that with a heavy, heavy heart.
7:45:14
So I said this this morning at the rally but it's worth repeating.
7:45:18
During a time when our federal government is looking to privatize public education and divert our tax money into the pockets of charter school billionaires, I beg you to stand up for New York City families and invest in our public schools now because that will send the message that our children are not for sale.
7:45:35
Thank you.