The exception to this is when a school gives a preference for at-risk students, in which case the school needs to know if an applicant meets its criteria in order to make its lottery work properly.

I want to thank you for the information regarding at-risk students. It’s my fault that I didn’t elaborate more on my statement. But, it was not, and will never be, my intention to discredit or reject at-risk students. In fact, those are my best challenging students that inspire me to do more. Allow me to explain.

I am in favor of all schools that will take every child that comes through their doors looking for that opportunity to succeed. I always say that schools (public, private, parochial, charter) are the gateway out of poverty. When a student sits in my classroom, I see an individual who has strengths and weaknesses and it’s the job of the teacher to do everything in his/her power to ensure that child gets the best education.

Unfortunately, I am very saddened by the underhandedness of certain charter schools where at-risk students are surreptitiously removed from non-public schools. Fortunately, they don’t have to worry because our goal, as public school teachers is to welcome all. So I had to question the “optional” part of providing information on the application of “at-risk”. If the charter schools will start admitting “all” children with their strengths and weaknesses, with their various level of disabilities which are always categorized as “at-risk”, and the different levels of the ESL students, then there should not be an “optional” part. But, I truly do not understand the purpose of the “optional” part of informing the charter school of an “at-risk” child if all children must be educated and helped. I found that suspicious; notwithstanding the fact, that charter schools are not reaching out to every “at-risk” child.

Hence, my statement that parents should not provide it. Let’s teach every child that walks through the gateway out of poverty, the schools.

Your unfounded statement could actually risk students with disabilities from receiving critical services. As the special education coordinator for a high achieving school, I have to comb the DOE’s CAP system with the student ID of every student that receives a seat at my school. This year alone, we had four student’s families intentionally not record that information. Not only does this cause a huge amount of backtracking, file searching, and delays in providing accommodations and modifications, but it can also significantly delay mandated services. I have to find related service providers to service my kids and authorization from the DOE that the provider is under contract with the city.

It takes a weeks upon weeks, months upon months, to secure these vital services for my students. And that’s if I know well before the start of the school year! Getting these providers is difficult and takes a huge amount of outreach and time. Hearing providers are particularly agonizing to find; there are so few of them and many decline immediately when they learn of my school’s neighborhood.

Families failing to inform schools of their child’s academic, physical, and emotional needs are creating a huge disservice that could have lasting, even lifelong, consequences. If a family believes that a school is engaging in the manner you describe, report them to the charter’s operator. No one wants a school like that in their city!

Be assured I’m neither pro-charter nor anti-union. I just fundamentally believe that a good school is a good school. I work mind blowing hours and put every ounce of effort I can possibly manage to get my kids to where they need to be. And I speak for dozens of committed special educators who do the same. I have never “counseled out” a single student and never will unless I truly believe that placement at my school would actually cause the child harm. Just like a district school is obligated to do.

In the interest of students with special needs, I’d advise a parent to note the educational status on the application. A responsible school will ensure that every component of support is provided on the first day of school.

If it’s optional, then there’s no need to provide it. I feel that the charter schools are using that information to eventually admit less “at-risk” students.