While we’re somewhat pleased that NYCPS will begin to provide these federally-mandated services, it’s disheartening that the city is extorting families into waiving their right to appeal, pursue Enhanced Rate Equitable Services, or any due process in order to have these essential services restored.
The city failed to provide families with proper notification of the IESP parental intent deadline, and the responsibility to rectify this situation should fall solely on NYCPS. I’ve inquired with the U.S. Department of Education regarding this issue, however, their ability to intervene is limited due to state law being more expansive, so we continue to urge our state and local government to do the right thing for these children.
These families have had to deal with accommodations being cruelly stripped from their children, and now they are also burdened with finding their own provider in just two weeks time when there is already a shortage of qualified special education providers. This solution is unfair to families who want their children to receive the support they deserve, and I urge the city and state to stop playing games with our children’s education before the learning loss caused by this bureaucratic nightmare becomes irreparable.
Received a briefing from New York City Public Schools this morning about their continued refusal to provide federally-mandated IESP services to our city’s parentally-placed students. What we were told is disheartening to say the least.
After failing to notify families about the parental intent deadline and lying to lawmakers several times, city bureaucrats are now putting a gun to families’ heads demanding they wrongly admit guilt and sign away their rights.
Hiding behind attorneys and gaslighting families into signing this waiver is cold, heartless, and cowardly.
I am calling for an official investigation into the handling of this by Governor Kathy Hochul, NYC Department of Investigation, NYS Inspector General, NYC & NYS Comptrollers and the NYS Attorney General.
Mike Reilly Mike Reilly is a member of the New York State Assembly, proudly representing the South Shore of Staten Island since 2019. mikewreilly.com