Summary:
The NYC Department of Education (DOE) is enforcing a June 1 deadline for applications for special education services for non-public school students.
Parents who missed the deadline are being denied services, leaving many scrambling for solutions and concerned about their children's academic progress.
The DOE is citing concerns about fraud and the misrepresentation of families by certain organizations as reasons for enforcing the deadline.
Parents are frustrated and angry, arguing that they were never informed about the deadline and many cannot afford to pay for these services themselves.
NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks defended the DOE's decision, stating that there has always been a deadline and that the agency is now enforcing it to address concerns about fraud.
NYC DOE Under Fire for Denying Special Education Services to Non-Public School Students
Parents of students attending private, charter, or homeschooled programs in New York City are facing a new challenge this school year. The Department of Education (DOE) is enforcing a June 1 deadline for applications for special education services, denying services to families who missed it. This has left many parents scrambling for solutions, as their children are now without the essential support they need.
While state law has long mandated the DOE to provide services to these students, the deadline has been loosely enforced in the past. However, this year, the DOE has decided to strictly enforce the rule, citing concerns about fraud and the misrepresentation of families by certain organizations.
Parents are expressing their frustration and anger, arguing that they were never informed about the deadline and that many cannot afford to pay for these services themselves. They are worried about their children's academic progress and well-being, fearing they will fall behind without the necessary support.
Parents' Concerns and Scrambling for Solutions
Patricia Piedra, whose son is homeschooled, voiced her fear of her son "suffering" and "being delayed" without the needed special education services. Alexis Petruzzelli, whose two children attend a Catholic school on Staten Island, expressed her disappointment, stating that the DOE's decision felt like a "gotcha" moment. Both parents are now scrambling to find alternative solutions for their children's education, facing a difficult situation that could potentially impact their children's academic success and overall well-being.
DOE's Response and Concerns
NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks defended the DOE's decision, stating that there has always been a deadline and that the agency is now enforcing it to address concerns about fraud. However, many parents are feeling the brunt of this stricter enforcement, caught off guard and without adequate support for their children's special needs.
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