The Department of Education's Special Education Reform Plan

NYC DOE Chancellor Joel Klein and Laura Rodriguez, Chief Achievement Officer for Special Education and English Language Learners sponsored a breakfeast meeting at Tweed Courthouse on Tuesday 2/2/10 to introduce the DOE's special education reform plan - A Two-Year Phase-in Process Focusing on the Advancement of Student Learning and Achievement. Jean and I were there from RCSN, along with advocates and colleagues from city and state agencies and organizations.

The highlights of this reform plan are:
    1. To establish the expectations that all schools and principals educate 
        the majority of students with disabilities.
    2. Create meaningful Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that guide  
        instruction and are aligned with long term student goals.
    3. Support schools through academic and behavioral interventions, staff
        development, access to innovative approaches and supports, and  budget
        flexibility
    4. Facilitate parental engagement
    5. Change and implement accountability measures that will ultimately lead
        to increases in graduation rates

The DOE's timeline for this reform plan starts this spring via a Capacity Building Campaign involving 10 networks of schools, encompassing 200 schools, and citywide conferences at the schools to inform parents and invite them to come onboard.

Please click here to download the plan. If you have any questions, please contact us here!  We're informed so you're informed!