Yesterday the city's comptroller released a lengthy report on the way the DOE tracks services for special education students -- and the picture the report paints isn't pretty. From the conclusions:
DOE is not monitoring, tracking, or documenting the provision of these services in an efficient manner, as shown by documentation that is incomplete, inaccurate, or lacking altogether. ... Due to these deficient records, DOE could not demonstrate the extent to which services were provided as prescribed by the students' Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
Unsurprisingly, the DOE is contesting the report's findings; its full rebuttal can be found at the end of the official report.
View Channel 4's news report online to hear more about the report and see how DOE officials respond. The video features AFC's director, Kim Sweet, telling parents, "You have to keep maintaining your vigilance to make sure these services are provided." That advice is unlikely to change even if the DOE does improve its record-keeping.
The New York Times ran an article about an almost identical report in 1994.
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