Special Education

On October 21st at 7 PM at the JCC Manhattan, Jean Mizutani Education Advocacy Team Leader Resources for Children with Special Needs will present on how the Department of Education’s (DOE) “new thinking” will influence IEP development and what that will mean in terms of special education recommendations.

Today, the New York City Department of Education posted a letter and information for parents about Phase 1 Education Reform on the DOE website. 

As the Department of Education (DOE) begins their plan to reform schools to better educate students with disabilities in community schools, we'll provide updates from a variety of sources to keep you informed.

Are general ed teachers prepared to teach students with disabilities?

New York City schools are moving toward inclusion of students with disabilities in more neighborhood schools and classrooms. With the goal of including all but students with the most severe disabilities in the city’s 1,500 neighborhood schools, the Department of Education is beginning its implementation of “special education reform” this school year with 260 “Phase 1” schools.

New York City schools enrolled 14,000 more students than had been projected and about half of them require special education services, School Chancellor Klein said this week.

Don't miss Jean Mizutani discussing special education reform and children's rights on WFAS' "Peace of Mind with Bernie the Attorney" tomorrow, June 3, from 6:05 pm - 6:35 pm!

You can tune in online or on AM 1230 on your radio dial.

A major reorganization at the New York State Education Department (NYSED), announced last week, will merge Special Education with General Education from preschool through high school beginning July 1, 2010. 

This is a very significant shift in policy and structure, one that will certainly have profound consequences for all students -- especially those with disabilities.

 
Please see below for the text of US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s speech at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention & Expo on April 21.

The NYC Department of Education has just released its Parent's Guide to Special Education Services for School-Age Children.

The guide contains the most current and up-to-date information that parents can use as they navigate NYC’s special education system.

More free RCSN trainings are coming up next week!