NRCP has received an unconfirmed report of a student at Ward Elementary School is receiving one on one Resource Room after school.
This is what we have so far:
• A Resource Room teacher at Ward Elementary School refused to accept a 6th student in the class citing the need for a variance approval from New York State Department of Education. Under New York State Law a school can only place a maximum of 5 students in a resource room class. There is only one way to legally add another student. This must be done via a variance. The other way is to simply add another Resource Room section.
The linked SPECIAL EDUCATION VARIANCE REQUESTS states the following:
Special education programs may request approval through Special Education Quality Assurance for a variance from the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education in the following instances:
CONSULTANT TEACHER SERVICES
Consultant teacher caseload in excess of 20 students with disabilities (as per Section 200.6(d)(3) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education).
RESOURCE ROOM PROGRAMSResource room teacher instructional group in excess of five students with disabilities; and/or
Resource room teacher caseload in excess of 20 students with disabilities or 25 students with disabilities enrolled in grades seven through twelve or a multi-level middle school program operating on a period basis (as per section 200.6(f)(6) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education).
• To provide this particular child with Resource Room the City School District of New Rochelle has provided this child with resource room after school on a one to one basis.
Why is this odd?
• First, we have never heard of a person being hired to provide Resource Room after school on a one to one ratio. Resource Room is typically provided during the regular school day. Due to programmatic constraints it is put in place of a non-mandated class or course. What is alleged that the City School District of New Rochelle is doing would seem to be a rather expensive solution in a time where compliance with New York State Law is the most fiscally responsible option.
• Second, it has been reported that many children in South End schools are regularly placed in Resource Room classes larger than 5 students without a variance. If this in fact is occurring, it is in direct violation of New York State Law, not to mention unfair for all children entitled to Resource Room services.
We would like to learn more about this issue. Particularly, from the families of the children in Resource Room with 6 or more children. In addition, we would like to hear from the teachers providing services for these children. Of course we would love that all the children in New Rochelle enjoyed the best possible teacher/student ratios. The reality is that these are difficult times and whatever resources we have at our disposal, must be dispensed in an equitable manner.
This is outrageous! I am a
This is outrageous! I am a parent of a parochial school child entitled to resource room services. I have been asking for services to be delivered after school so that she did not waste valuable class time on the bus getting to the public school in order to receive services. I was told time and time again that resource room is offered only during school hours; the tone was “take it or leave it”. Many parochial school children’s parents opt out of the services due to the lost time in travel and hire private tutors. Not all of us have the resources to do so. Does this mean resource room IS available after school? What is so special about the child who is getting services outside of the school day? I pay taxes at the same rate they do! Who might we contact for answers? I am livid!