| News Report RACISM IN NY'S SCHOOLS ALLEGED
School Safety
History of
Police Brutality
Case
Studies of Police Brutality
Giuliani's
Ton Ton Macoutes
Resources:
Center for Constitutional Rights (800) 764-0235
National Coalition on Police Accountability (312) 663-5392
National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights 212 614-5355 rperez@boricuanet.org
National Peoples Campaign - 39 West 14th Street, #206, NY, NY 10011. (212) 633-6646;
(Fax) (212) 633-2889
Speak Out! - POB 99096, Emeryville, CA 94662 Phone: (510) 601-0182; Fax: (510)
601-0183; speakout@igc.apc.org |
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The U.S. Department
of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has reached an agreement with the New York
City Board of Education, concerning the placement of minority and limited English
proficient students in special education classes. Approximately 120,000 students receive
special education services in the city. "This
agreement will be of great benefit to the students of the New York City schools,"
said Helen Whitney, director of the New York Office for Civil Rights, "and should
result in increased access to educational opportunities."
Under a memorandum of understanding, New York City among
other things will:
(i) provide training for parents on special education
rights and procedures;
(ii) measure the academic success of special education
students;
(iii) collect and analyze referral and placement
information from all schools and districts to prevent inappropriate, disproportionate
referral and restrictive placement of minority and limited English proficient (LEP)
students;
(iv) replicate or expand successful intervention models
for atrisk students; and
(v) include information on special education programs in
annual "school report cards." |
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Whitney said
implementation of the agreement will not reduce or eliminate services to students with
special needs, but will assure that only students who require special education are
appropriately placed in such programs. The agreement also seeks to ensure that special
needs students are placed in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs
and that all students in special education benefit from their individualized education
programs. The agreement was reached after a
two-year effort on the part of the New York City school officials and OCR. Also providing
assistance were officials from the department's Office of Special Education Programs and
the New York State Department of Education. OCR will monitor compliance with the agreement
for three years. |
