Special Education Remote Learning Information/Contacts/Resources/Links
The switch to remote education because of the coronavirus crisis has created many educational challenges for families. New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) offers the following information, arranged in alphabetical order, to students with disabilities, their caregivers, and other advocates. We will update the information as soon as we learn of changes and additions, particularly information related to COVID-19. Feel contact us if you seek advocacy assistance regarding the education of your child with a disability.
FOSTER PARENTS
- Foster parents should follow the same protocol as parents.
FREE MEALS
- Over 400 school locations will be serving Grab and Go meals for students and their families. For general information about meals, visit http://www.schools.nyc.gov/freemeals.
- No registration, ID, or documentation is required to pick up these meals.
- Three meals a day will be available per person and may be picked up at the same time.
- To find the closest location serving meals, visit https://www.opt-osfns.org/schoolfoodny/meals/default.aspx.
HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
- For information about high school offers and admissions, visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school.
INTERNET ACCESS
- Families who have trouble connecting should reach out to their schools directly. Each school will be troubleshooting its own remote technology issues with support from the New York City Department of Education (DOE). DOE is working to create more supports for parents in this transition.
- Charter Cable (and possibly other providers) will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a subscription, and installation fees will be waived. For more information, call 1-844-488-8395.
- AT&T is also offering 60 days of free public service. Other providers may also make internet services available for free. For more information, visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jRzsVlpQL7RbQmrOoVaKBr6735GHz6ab/view.
- Each loaned device will be WIFI-enabled.
IMMIGRANTS
- Family Welcome Center (FWC) staff are available remotely to assist immigrants with enrollment, placement, admissions, offers, and waitlists. https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers
- To receive direct support, call 311 or e-mail your questions to:
- Bronx: bronxfwc@schools.nyc.gov
- Brooklyn: brooklynfwc@schools.nyc.gov
- Manhattan: manhattanfwc@schools.nyc.gov
- Queens:queensfwc@schools.nyc.gov
- Staten Island: statenislandfwc@schools.nyc.gov
IPADS
- Apple donated 300,000 iPads to DOE.
- All devices are the property of DOE and MUST be returned to DOE.
- Students in temporary housing have priority for delivery, followed by students in foster care, and students in high school (ELL & students with disabilities).
- The first 25,000 computers will be delivered to students in temporary housing starting on March 23.
- Students in charter and attending non-public schools (NPS) will receive free devices. DOE is working on guidelines. There are private grants available for those students in charter schools. For more information, visit https://www.nyccharterschools.org/covid19grant?utm_source=New+York+City+Charter+School+Center&utm_campaign=b3c845db0a-MC+COVID+19+Crisis+Grant+Opportunity+200321&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_70a569a47f-b3c845db0a-323609181.
- Each school-aged child should receive their own If your school has only provided one device for multiple children, you should fill out the DOE survey for each student that includes “OSIS number”-a nine-digit number issued to all students who attend a New York City public school. In the meantime, parents should contact their school’s principal at https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices to request additional devices.
MISCELLANEOUS
- Families with technological needs should contact the school principal or call 311 or fill out the survey: https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices
- IEP meetings will be conducted remotely.
- Teachers cannot require students and their parents to use printed materials unless the teachers provide the materials.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOURCES
- For the most updated information about remote learning, visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/coronavirus-update.
- To obtain general information, visit http://www.schools.nyc.gov/, call 311, or email the school principal.
- DOE has posted instructional resources in English for students in grades Pre-K through 12 online at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home. Some translations in at least the nine covered languages have been developed, and more are in the works, including webinars for teachers, parents, and caregivers.
- Teachers are available via remote learning for potential extra support. For details, visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home.
- DOE is also building out additional resources and tutorials, and consulting with curriculum experts on how best to assist. They will keep updating these resources on an ongoing basis at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home
- For specific questions, you can contact the following DOE representatives:
- Michele Martinez Gugerli – Deputy Director for Community Affairs, mmartinezgugerli@schools.nyc.gov.
- Sadye Campoamor – Director for Community affairs, scampoamor@schools.nyc.gov.
MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS
- The Division of Multilingual Learners is developing guidance to support Multilingual Learners in any language, to maintain continuity of learning, including how co-teaching can work remotely. For information, visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/multilingual-learners.
- Parents can request assistance to fill out the survey by calling 718-935-5100, Option 5.
NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS
- Non-custodial parents should utilize New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) to access school information https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/in-our-classrooms/nyc-schools-account
NURSING SERVICES
- DOE will be providing 1:1 nursing service in the home for students who have a 1:1 nurse during the school day and who wish to have such a nurse in the home.
PARENT COORDINATORS
- Parent Coordinators will still be supporting families, principals will still be supervising the parent coordinators, but all will be shifting to remote-only work.
- Resources for Parent Coordinators The DOE has set up a Parent Empowerment Hub for Parent Coordinators: https://parentcoordinatornyc.connectwithkids.com. Here school Parent Coordinators will find information and guidance to help them support families.
REGIONAL ENRICHMENT CENTERS
- A Regional Enrichment Center (REC) is a safe, enriching place created by the New York City Department of Education to provide childcare for first responders who are critical to the COVID-19 response efforts.
- For information, visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/regional-enrichment-centers.
RELATED SERVICES
- Related Services such as Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) will be conducted remotely.
- For independent providers, in-person Special Education Teacher Support Services (SETSS) is no longer authorized, but students should receive SETSS remotely (through a remote learning platform or phone if no such platform is available), to the extent feasible.
- For contract services, DOE also expects providers to provide remote services for which they will be paid.
- To make a referral for initial evaluation, reevaluation, and to ask assistance with records, you can email your principal or specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov or call 311.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
- Attendance will be required for all students.
SOCIAL WORKERS
- Social workers will be providing supports online. Students who are receiving mental health services at school will continue to receive the service remotely.
STATE ASSESSMENTS
- For details about state assessments, visit http://www.nysed.gov/news/2020/statement-board-regents-chancellor-betty-rosa-and-interim-state-education-commissioner-2.
- NYSDOE has applied for federal waivers for testing, accountability, and reporting requirements. https://oese.ed.gov/files/2020/03/COVID-19-OESE-FINAL-3.12.20.pdf.
STUDENT RECORDS
- To access or update your child’s school records, sign up for a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/in-our-classrooms/nyc-schools-account. Can also email specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov
- DOE is working on a mechanism by which parents can obtain their children’s records without an “OSIS number” — a nine-digit number issued to all students who attend a New York City public school. In the meantime, parents should contact their school’s principal.
LAST UPDATED: APRIL 2, 2020
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