Monday Miscellany

Writing Opportunity for New Jersey 5th and 6th Graders

Teachers 4 Student Success, a non-profit organization, will be hold a writing camp for 5th and 6th grade students in New Jersey this summer. The camp is designed for students who have either been diagnosed with a learning disability or who simply find writing difficult. Instruction will take place over 10 sessions from July to August, and will be based on research-tested methods for teaching expository writing. Because the program will be subsidized by a grant, the cost for the entire summer is only $20.00, though students must be willing to attend all sessions in Fort Lee, NJ or Ridgefield, NJ. Eligibility restrictions may apply. For further information, please contact Pooja Patel at pooja979@gmail.com or (201) 310-1348. Space is limited.

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A New Post-Secondary Program

Last week we had the chance to visit Giant Step Services, a two year vocational and independent living program for young adults with significant learning challenges. What brought us out to Hauppauge, in Suffolk County, New York, was the fact that this program is run by the same folks who created the Vocational Independence Program (VIP) at the New York Institute of Technology. VIP is a highly regarded post-secondary option for students whose learning difficulties would make college very difficult, but who can benefit from vocational education and life skills and social experiences. VIP students can also take courses at NYIT.

The team at Giant Step follows a similar model to VIP, but is not affiliated with a college, although students may take classes at Suffolk County Community College or elsewhere. The program is located in an apartment complex where the participants live together in two- or three-bedroom apartments. They receive significant levels of services and support to work in the community. The Giant Step program is still new, but given the background of the folks who are running it, we are hopeful that it will be an important resource for young people with significant learning challenges. For more information, contact Giant Step at (631) 631-5550.

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ARISE Coalition

New York City parents, teachers, and others who are concerned about the state of special education in the city should be aware of the ARISE Coalition (Action for Reform in Special Education), whose membership is a "Who's Who" of nonprofit organizations, educators, unions, and political leaders "seeking to connect and bring meaningful and positive reform to New York's schools. Their email alerts are a good way to keep abreast of NYC Special Education news.

Season of Change for New York Education

New York is abuzz this week with news of significant changes to the educational leadership at both the city and state levels. First came a series of resignations over the last few weeks from the New York City Department of Education following the controversial appointment of Cathleen Black, a magazine executive with no teaching experience and no ties to the public schools, as Chancellor of the city's almost 1,700 hundred schools, serving over 1.1 million students. These resignations included deputy chancellors who managed such crucial areas as decentralization, admissions and school choice, finances, and community engagement.

Then, on Thursday of this week, came word that Ms. Black had resigned (at the request of the Mayor). Finally, later that same day, an announcement was made that the State Commissioner of Education, David Steiner, who had been in the position for only two years and who had grudgingly approved the Mayor's choice of Ms. Black (a requirement for her appointment) was leaving his position at the end of the year. Mr. Steiner stated that the occurrence of both resignations on the same day was simply a coincidence.

While the new State Commissioner of Education will be selected some time in the future by the New York State Board of Regents, the resignation of Chancellor Black was immediately followed by the appointment of Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott as her replacement. Mr. Walcott has a graduate degree in education, attended the New York City Public Schools, as did his children and, currently, his grandchild. He taught for two years and his responsibilities as Deputy Mayor included Education. Still, Mr. Walcott will require a waiver from the State Education Commissioner since he does not have the credentials in educational leadership that are required for the job.

Time will tell what these changes mean for the children and families of New York. But this might be a good time to set forth a short wish-list of things that can mean a great deal of difference to the children that are served by the City and State of New York.

• We'd like to see real transition planning for students with learning and other issues, as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and New York law. All too often, planning for the transition from high school to the workplace, or post-secondary education, is cursory and leaves out many meaningful life skills. Students need to learn about their rights under education laws, and should prepare for  adult responsibilities such as money management, travel, and how to find a job. Students who intend to continue their education are particularly likely to graduate without these crucial competencies.

• We'd like to see the diploma system modified and clarified for parents and students. The long-standing Regents diploma, New York's goal for high school graduates, may not be accessible for some students with learning and other disabilities. Right now there is a stop-gap diploma available to some students with a lower passing grade. But as that is being phased out, students who cannot pass Regents exams will be relegated to IEP "diplomas" which are not diplomas at all. We believe that it is important to maintain standards for all students and to help them reach as high as their abilities permit. But when  students are cut off from a real diploma it can be a serious impediment to their future endeavors. There should be a permanent, real diploma alternative available for these students.

• We'd like to see schools provide excellence in special education services. Right now the City of New York is trying hard to keep students with learning and other difficulties in public school programs to save the substantial expense of paying for these students' education in private schools. But the services offered in New York City Public Schools often fall short of meeting students' needs, forcing parents to place their children in private settings and seek tuition reimbursements or to leave them to struggle with inadequate IEPs or IEPs that are not followed. It is a "penny-wise and pound-foolish" policy.