Special education programs exist to ensure that all of our city’s children, including those with disabilities and challenges, have the opportunity for an education and the chance to reach their full potential. There are federal, state and city laws, regulations and procedures in place to ensure that special ed students get the assistance and services they need and deserve.
Now with yet another reorganization of special ed on the horizon, the UFT has launched a pro-active campaign to help ensure that students get the services, support and resources they need.
ACCEPT NO EXCUSE.
Defend the IEP.
It’s the law.
New hotline to report violations: 212-701-9499
New online complaint form
An expert UFT staffer will contact you within 48 hours of receiving your complaint.
Campaign materials to post in your school and share with your colleagues:
THERE IS NO EXCUSE poster – click here to see what it looks like, and call your borough office to get a copy for your UFT bulletin board!
THERE IS NO EXCUSE flyer – letter-sized so you can print and copy and leave copies in your UFT colleagues’ mailboxes!
Favor de hacer clic aquí para obtener una versión del opúsculo en español.
We also have THERE IS NO EXCUSE bookmarks. Call your borough office to get some to hand out to your colleagues.
Whistleblower protection:
In order to have whistleblower protection, you must make a separate report directly to one of the public officials named in the whistleblower law. If you choose to file a report, we suggest that you file with the Public Advocate. The Public Advocate will receive and retain your report in the event you wish to claim you have been retaliated against. Go here for more information on the whistleblower law.
This campaign is being supported by the ARISE Coalition, of which the UFT is a member.
The UFT’s five-borough “There is No Excuse” special-education campaign was in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island on May 12 to meet parents dissatisfied with how the IEPs of their special-needs children are being met by the DOE, and to offer some common solutions. NY1 News covered the event.
Click here or on the image above to watch the video.