Parents of children with severe disabilities to have more say in operations of NYC public schools

A new election season for local and citywide education councils kicked off Monday with a significant change that opens the door to greater participation from parents of children with severe disabilities.

Those parents, whose children attend schools known collectively as District 75, can now apply not only for citywide but also local education councils. The change was mandated by the state Legislature as part of the latest extension of mayoral control over city schools.

District 75 is a network of public schools for roughly 26,000 students with complex disabilities, including severe autism or physical and developmental disabilities like traumatic brain injuries or cerebral palsy. While its programs may serve as a lifeline for students who need specialized attention, the district often serves as little more than a holding ground for more than 8,000 kids with emotional disabilities, interviews with multiple current and former district families and staffers revealed this summer.

Graduation rates for students in District 75 are abysmally low — fewer than one in 10 children obtain a diploma within six years, compared with more than half of all city public school students with disabilities, according to fiscal watchdog the Independent Budget Office.

“This change ensures that the voice of the families of students with disabilities is heard on all of our local councils,” said Schools Chancellor David Banks at a press conference Monday at the public school headquarters in Tweed Courthouse.

Schools chancellor David Banks

Gloria Corsino, a parent of two former District 75 students with autism, served on both councils and used those positions to advocate for more private counseling rooms in schools.

“Previously students were receiving therapy in the hallways due to the lack of space,” said Corsino, whose tenure spanned from 2008 to 2021, “and I’m proud to have been part of this critical change.”

The comments came at an event to mark the official kickoff of the election cycle for seats on councils across the city.

The community boards include 10 elected members and two borough-president appointees who provide feedback on classrooms and school policy to superintendents, approve school zoning and utilization changes and give parents a forum to raise issues at a local level.

The once-sleepy election process, which takes place every other year, surged in interest last cycle as school boards across the country became political hot beds for issues related to COVID-19 protocols and diversity efforts in schools. A record 1,785 parents applied in 2021 — a 70% increase since the cycle prior in 2019, the nonprofit education outlet Chalkbeat reported.

Parents can sign up now through Feb. 13 to run for 32 geographically bound councils representing prekindergarten through eighth-grade parents — plus four citywide subgroup councils on high schools, English language learners, special education and District 75. Voting will open in the spring.

“If we really want to change this education system, we need new ideas, fresh ideas, fresh thinking — and you don’t do that by just listening to the same people over and over again, ” Banks said.

The press conference came just weeks after the department faced criticism from some parent leaders, who denounced how it handled the election for new borough-based family representatives to the Panel for Educational Policy. Close to 19% of school districts didn’t vote, including eligible council presidents who reported technology trouble, not knowing the election date, and one parent with a death in the family whose proxy was shut out from voting.

Nathaniel Styer, a spokesman for the department, declined to weigh in on possible changes made to the community and citywide council elections in response to parent feedback after the panel controversy — calling them “two separate processes.”

He previously said the election was run in accordance with city and state law.

Officials will hold candidate forums from the end of February through April 20. Voting will open the next day and run for more than two weeks through May 9.

Results will be announced in June, and members will take their seats on July 1.

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