Kids pay price
Tish rips aid system for disabled students
THE CITY’S DISMAL voucher system shortchanges thousands of public school students with disabilities out of needed services, according to a new report out Wednesday.
Hundreds of vouchers provided by the city for critical services — such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and counseling — are going unused because families can’t find providers, according to the the report, published by Public Advocate Letitia James.
An overwhelming 4,161 of the 9,164 vouchers issued by the city in the 2015-16 school year weren’t redeemed, the report shows.
James said the problem is particularly acute in poor neighborhoods.
“When vouchers are given out, it shifts responsibility from schools to parents, who must then find providers and transport their child on their own time and their own dime,” James said while unveiling the study in the Bronx.
“The DOE is failing its main duty to provide equal access to education for all children.”
James’ analysis of city data found that 117 of 129 of vouchers issued in Bronx District 8, which includes some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, weren’t redeemed. Likewise, 182 of 231 vouchers in southern Queens’ District 27 weren’t used, the report says.
Roughly 200,000 kids in the city schools have disabilities that require special services. They account for about 19 % of the city schools’ 1.1 million students.
Vouchers are only used in cases where schools and Education Department contractors can’t provide the needed services.
Barbara Glassman, director of the advocacy group IncludeNYC, said the system puts a burden on families.
“Parents often tell us that they struggle to get the services that their students need to achieve their full potential,” Glassman said. “The current system isn’t working for families.”
Education officials called the report misleading and said roughly 95% of city students with disabilities received mandated services in the 2016-17 school year, up from 84% in the 2011-12 school year.
“We are dedicated to meeting the needs of students with disabilities and work closely with families to ensure students receive the related services mandated by their Individualized Education Programs,” Education Department spokeswoman Toya Holness said.