Resolution on "There is no Excuse" campaign

Mar 25, 2009 4:44 PM

WHEREAS, citywide and district special education programs exist to ensure that all of our city’s children, including those with disabilities and challenges, have the opportunity to receive a free, public education and the chance to reach their potential, and there are federal, state and city laws, procedures and regulations in place to make sure that special ed students get the assistance and services they need and deserve; and

WHEREAS, the current Dept of Education management approach to the city’s special education programs has too often failed the children the department is charged with serving, ignored or intimidated parents and disregarded disabled students’ individualized education plans (IEP); and

WHEREAS, these systemic problems have been exacerbated by changes in the way money is allocated and accounted for such that it has become difficult if not impossible to track whether special ed services are being funded and/or delivered as mandated; and

WHEREAS, the 2003 and 2007 reorganizations of special education did not improve services but rather allowed schools to eliminate or cut back on self-contained classes, SETSS and related services, contributing to the critical and systemic problems evident today, and

WHEREAS, the system is clearly failing large numbers of special education students with just 9% of 8th graders with disabilities reading at a level to succeed in high school and only 23% of high school students with disabilities graduating on time compared with nearly twice that (42%) statewide (and with just 5% receiving Regents diplomas compared with almost four times that number—19%--statewide); and

WHEREAS, the DOE has just announced yet another reorganization of special education the prospects and wisdom of which, in light of the DOE’s track record with previous reorganizations, are extremely worrisome; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of any special education reorganization ought to be improved and more timely services, compliance with legal mandates and better outcomes for children, and

WHEREAS, the UFT is committed to improving special education immediately, for students in District 75 and in CSD programs, those in CTT classrooms and those receiving SETSS and all related services, by linking with parents and advocates around the city and doing all it can to help these students succeed and grow; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the union prepare for the coming reorganization of special education with a pro-active campaign that helps ensure that students in every school get the services, support and resources they need; and be it further

RESOLVED, that this campaign specifically provide new avenues to report failures to provide mandated services or follow required procedures, including a hotline staffed by knowledgeable and responsive educators who can answer questions and follow up on reported violations; an online complaint form to give access to as many school staffers and parents as possible; and expert advice and protections for educators who whistleblow under the law; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the campaign go school by school to raise awareness among educators of the services students with disabilities are entitled to and of the issues at stake, and to increase staff support for these efforts so that the union can address compliance issues as effectively as possible; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the union call this effort the “There is No Excuse” campaign because there is no excuse for the failure of the DOE to meet mandates and obey the law and there is no excuse for the DOE’s failure to provide the education our students need and deserve, and the UFT will accept no excuse from the DOE if it continues to fail to fulfill its obligations to special education students.

Passed at March 25, 2009 Delegate Assembly