The article is about how the school districts on Long Island lack services and are
in need of change to implement more programs to assist students with special
needs and to raise their levels of academic achievement. New York lags behind
many other states in the delivery of special education services. State education
officials declared schools need to boost student achievement. New York is a “state
in need of assistance” due to subpar services and low performance of students
with disabilities. They set aside a few hours at their monthly meetings to
underscore the seriousness of the situation.
National
policy on special ed is governed by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA). The federal government requires states to draft corrective plans or spend
federal IDEA funding to ensure local districts provide adequate help to
students with special needs. One way they suggest implementing this change is
by providing “inclusionary” classes that combine students with disabilities
with non-disabled kids under the guidance of two full-time teachers.
Six states
fail to meet requirements for one year and 22 states fall below requirements
for two or more years. Hempstead has rated as needing intervention for 9 years.
Special ed programs not improving quickly enough.
Regina
Armstrong, the superintendent of the Hempstead school district said: “However,
to be clear, the district is not moving backward but is working diligently to
pick up the rate of progress in regard to the two special education programs,”
Armstrong said. “This will certainly take sustained time and effort to reach
ultimate success, but we are dedicated to increasing the rate of progress.” Enrollment in
special education has inched up in recent years leveling out at 12% of the
public school population a decade ago.
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