Don't leave students with disabilities behind.
Many years of stagnant funding and increasing costs have endangered the future of Special Act schools, 853 Schools, 4201 Schools that serve the blind and deaf, and public 4410 Programs. In fact, several Special Act school districts have been forced to close and others continue to face serious financial challenges. Funding for these programs should be increased to support the actual needs of the students!
Take action now at the NYSUT Member Action Center to ask lawmakers to finally provide financial stability to the critical institutions that serve students with disabilities!
In providing a "free appropriate public education" to all students, New York invests in a diverse array of programs to serve the unique educational needs of the state's most vulnerable, traumatized, disabled and marginalized youth. These schools provide education and related services to school-age students who, for many reasons, are unable to be served by either the local public schools or BOCES. These schools are specifically designed to meet the intense needs of students placed by the juvenile justice, child welfare, mental health, developmental disabilities and special education systems.
However, the chronic underfunding of these programs has negatively impacted education and enrichment for the students that they serve.
Take action now at the NYSUT Member Action Center to ask lawmakers to finally provide financial stability to the critical institutions that serve students with disabilities!
These students and schools deserve educational funding parity with the school aid percentage increases provided to traditional public schools.
Take action now!
In solidarity,
Andrew Pallotta
NYSUT President
P.S.: Please take action now to support students with disabilities all across New York!