"Town Hall" and NYC Council Hearing on Special Education Reporting Bill

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and members of the City Council's Education Committee have prepared a charter amendment requiring reporting of the number of special education students, referred, evaluated, and placed, as well as the number of days between those events. All of us who have been frustrated getting information about the system within which our children are served are likely to cheer this measure.

And in a larger sense, it is exciting that local and state pols are taking a look at special education. Looking at the text of Intro 344, the City Council's Education Committee proposal, it seems they think the problem is accountability, the watchword of the season. Intro 344 does shine some sunlight on referral, evaluation, and placement, and on student outcomes to a slight degree. I do wish it addressed student outcomes and program quality more directly, but the disclosures it requires of the Dept. of Education will create positive incentives and information that can be used for further advocacy.

Text of Int. 344 can be read at: http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Int%200344-2006.htm

On Monday 9/18 at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office bldg. from 6:30 to 8:30 Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and Assemblyman Keith Wright will host an Education Town Hall that includes a panel of distiguished guests such as Council Members Jackson and Dickens, UFT President Randi Weingarten, and many others.

On Tuesday 9/19 at 10a.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall the Education Committee will hold a hearing on proposed Special Education legislation, Intro-344.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH
6:30PM to 8:30PM
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Bldg.
163 West 125th St
BY SUBWAY: A, B, C, D OR 2, 3 TO 125TH STREET STATION

Sponsored By: Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum & Assemblyman Keith Wright

Featured Guests and Panel:
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
Council Members Inez Dickens and Robert Jackson
Carmen Colon, Assc. of NYC Education Councils
Dawn Brooks-DeCosta, Harriet Tubman Learning Center
Tim Johnson, Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council
Dr. Danielle Moss Lee, Harlem Educational Activities Fund, Inc.
Matthew Lenaghan, Advocates for Children
Ellen McHugh, Parent to Parent of NYC
Randi Weingarten, UFT President
for more information visit www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov or call (212)669-7200

Share your questions, thoughts and experiences with our panel of elected officials and education advocates

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PUBLIC ADVOCATE BETSY GOTBAUM AND COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT JACKSON, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION,
INVITE YOU TO THE:

CITY COUNCIL HEARING
ON SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH at 10 AM
(NOTE VENUE CHANGE from 250 Broadway)
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL

SUBWAY: R, W TO CITY HALL STATION; 2, 3 TO PARK PLACE STATION; 4, 5, 6
TO BROOKLYN BRIDGE/CITY HALL STATION; A, C TO CHAMBERS ST STATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL (212)669-3258

Int 344 - By the Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum) and Council Members Brewer, Clarke, Fidler, Koppell, Martinez, McMahon, Nelson and Recchia Jr. - A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to requiring the reporting of statistics relating to students receiving special education services.