Comments on: A culture shift in special education urged after internal review http://gothamschools.org/2009/07/02/a-culture-shift-in-special-education-urged-after-internal-review/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: canwetalk http://gothamschools.org/2009/07/02/a-culture-shift-in-special-education-urged-after-internal-review/comment-page-1/#comment-199460 canwetalk Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:00:27 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=18099#comment-199460 Peter is correct about Principals not knowing what are the correct or best services for the special needs students. Many teachers are aware that IEPs are being changed to fit the needs of the school instead of the students. I have heard of untenured SpEd teachers directed to change IEPs so that self-contained students are programmed to have CTT classes. Unfortunately, these students lose out because they can not keep pace with the demands of the class and students who are on target feel resentful that the CTT teachers have to slow down the lesson because of these students whose conceptual acquisition level is many grades below the other students. IDEA was a law created to protect these types of students and to ensure that they needs are met. Yet, Principals are cutting corners, not only because they save money, but short-changing these students so that they stats will look as though every child is in a main stream class and just a few are special needs. The stats! It all boils down to the stats! They are too many administrators in this system without any teaching experience designing and planning programs that are too complex for even the most experienced teacher. The DoE's cadre of quasi-educators made so many changes to special education programs/services that the victim, once again, will be these children. Shame on them. Peter is correct about Principals not knowing what are the correct or best services for the special needs students. Many teachers are aware that IEPs are being changed to fit the needs of the school instead of the students. I have heard of untenured SpEd teachers directed to change IEPs so that self-contained students are programmed to have CTT classes. Unfortunately, these students lose out because they can not keep pace with the demands of the class and students who are on target feel resentful that the CTT teachers have to slow down the lesson because of these students whose conceptual acquisition level is many grades below the other students. IDEA was a law created to protect these types of students and to ensure that they needs are met. Yet, Principals are cutting corners, not only because they save money, but short-changing these students so that they stats will look as though every child is in a main stream class and just a few are special needs. The stats! It all boils down to the stats! They are too many administrators in this system without any teaching experience designing and planning programs that are too complex for even the most experienced teacher. The DoE’s cadre of quasi-educators made so many changes to special education programs/services that the victim, once again, will be these children. Shame on them.

]]> By: Helena Lewis http://gothamschools.org/2009/07/02/a-culture-shift-in-special-education-urged-after-internal-review/comment-page-1/#comment-147401 Helena Lewis Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:12:36 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=18099#comment-147401 It seems as if most reform proposals in Special Education are geared towards lower school children. I welcome the possibility of support for High School students who are given the task of meeting the requirements for a regents diploma but are not given instructions to address their weak skills. It seems as if they must adjust to the design of a non-learning disabled environment instead of fulfilling the goals stipulated on their Individual Educational Plan. All students can achieve when given the necessary support. Students with IEP who graduate with local diplomas and IEP diplomas meet with college advisors who are not aware of the opportunities for students with special needs. Unfortunately, these students are misinformed about post-high school options. I am hopeful these concerns will be taken into consideration as Ms. Rodriquez assumes her new position. Thank you. Ms. Lewis It seems as if most reform proposals in Special Education are geared towards lower school children. I welcome the possibility of support for High School students who are given the task of meeting the requirements for a regents diploma but are not given instructions to address their weak skills. It seems as if they must adjust to the design of a non-learning disabled environment instead of fulfilling the goals stipulated on their Individual Educational Plan. All students can achieve when given the necessary support. Students with IEP who graduate with local diplomas and IEP diplomas meet with college advisors who are not aware of the opportunities for students with special needs. Unfortunately, these students are misinformed about post-high school options. I am hopeful these concerns will be taken into consideration as Ms. Rodriquez assumes her new position. Thank you.
Ms. Lewis

]]> By: peter http://gothamschools.org/2009/07/02/a-culture-shift-in-special-education-urged-after-internal-review/comment-page-1/#comment-147075 peter Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:41:11 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=18099#comment-147075 There are many hundreds, perhaps many thousands of kids who are intentionally being deprived of IEP mandated services ... partially because some principals can't figure it out, and in some instances it simply saves dollars ... it has become commonplace to change IEPs to fit the school model rather than the needs of the kid ... yes, special education services need a careful review ... this Report doesn't do it ... There are many hundreds, perhaps many thousands of kids who are intentionally being deprived of IEP mandated services … partially because some principals can’t figure it out, and in some instances it simply saves dollars … it has become commonplace to change IEPs to fit the school model rather than the needs of the kid … yes, special education services need a careful review … this Report doesn’t do it …

]]> By: Ellen McHugh http://gothamschools.org/2009/07/02/a-culture-shift-in-special-education-urged-after-internal-review/comment-page-1/#comment-145287 Ellen McHugh Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:19:15 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=18099#comment-145287 I am confused. On the one hand a dept. spokesman is quoted in the following way "A department spokesman, David Cantor, said that the department is also planning to replace Wernikoff, rather than letting Rokeach or others absorb her responsibilities." The piece published in InsideSchools this evening leads me to believe differently as it seems to indicate that, "Rodriguez and Rokeach will review feedback on Harries’ report, and then decide which recommendations to put into action." Where do the two individuals from ELL and Spec. Ed fit in this structure? Are they to offer informed comments or to implement only? And I appreciate the Chancellor's honesty "Rodriguez will be one of only seven people reporting directly to the chancellor, making the needs of nearly 250,000 disabled students and ELLs “visible and transparent at the cabinet level” for the first time, Klein said." Parents of these two groups of students have long clamored to have the needs of their students recognized at the cabinet level. The only disappointment is that is took seven long years for the voices to be heard. I am confused. On the one hand a dept. spokesman is quoted in the following way “A department spokesman, David Cantor, said that the department is also planning to replace Wernikoff, rather than letting Rokeach or others absorb her responsibilities.”
The piece published in InsideSchools this evening leads me to believe differently as it seems to indicate that, “Rodriguez and Rokeach will review feedback on Harries’ report, and then decide which recommendations to put into action.”

Where do the two individuals from ELL and Spec. Ed fit in this structure? Are they to offer informed comments or to implement only?

And I appreciate the Chancellor’s honesty “Rodriguez will be one of only seven people reporting directly to the chancellor, making the needs of nearly 250,000 disabled students and ELLs “visible and transparent at the cabinet level” for the first time, Klein said.”

Parents of these two groups of students have long clamored to have the needs of their students recognized at the cabinet level. The only disappointment is that is took seven long years for the voices to be heard.

]]> By: KitchenSink http://gothamschools.org/2009/07/02/a-culture-shift-in-special-education-urged-after-internal-review/comment-page-1/#comment-145286 KitchenSink Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:17:37 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=18099#comment-145286 No mention of charter schools as a source for dissemination. Yet some are doing very interesting things - and contrary to popular belief, seeking out and serving well students with disabilities. For that matter, any schools that have strong special education programs. I wonder if he could highlight some of the schools where saw best practices and the reasons why; we could all benefit from holding those schools up as examples. No mention of charter schools as a source for dissemination. Yet some are doing very interesting things – and contrary to popular belief, seeking out and serving well students with disabilities.

For that matter, any schools that have strong special education programs. I wonder if he could highlight some of the schools where saw best practices and the reasons why; we could all benefit from holding those schools up as examples.

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