James wants more info on aid for disabled kids

PUBLIC ADVOCATE Letitia James introduced a City Council bill Wednesday to force Education Department officials to provide more information about services for public school students with disabilities.

James’ bill would require school officials to publish information three times a year instead of once a year.

The measure would also require administrators to hand over the demographics of nearly 200,000 students with disabilities in the city schools.

According to figures published by the city in November, only 73% of those students received all of the services they were supposed to in 2016.

“Too many of our most vulnerable students are being left behind by a system that is supposed to support and advance them,” James said.

“Special education services are not optional resources, they are mandated services that are critical to a child’s learning and development and parental involvement,” she added.

State law requires the city to give students with disabilities individualized education plans that detail needed services, such as tutoring or therapy.

But in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, figures show that more than 48,000 students only received partial services or did not get any at all.

Last July, James joined advocates in slapping the city with a class-action lawsuit for failing to give critical services to hundreds of Bronx students with disabilities.

The suit, filed by Disability Rights Advocates seeks an overhaul of the city’s treatments for students with disabilities in Bronx public schools, including a tracking system to make sure kids get services.

Education Department officials to comment on James’ new bill. declined