Earlier this week, DOE announced a new data-management system for special education studentsin the city's schools. Hard on its heels comes news, thanks to GothamSchools' Philissa Cramer, that DOE wunderkind Garth Harrieswill oversee an evaluation and, it's thought, eventual revamp of special education across the city's 1400+ schools.

Advocates for the special education community like Kim Sweet, Advocates for Childrenexecutive director, say that Harries lacks the practical background to undertake this important effort, especially in economically fragile times. Inexperience didn't stop Harries before; although he has never taught in or led a public school, as head of the DOE's Portfolio office, Harries has overseen the closing of dozens of large, failing schools, and the opening of hundreds of new, small high and secondary schools in their place.

An educator he's not, conceded David Cantor of the DOE's press office; he characterized Harriesinstead as an "analyst and mechanic of large operations."

Gulp.