Malliotakis Statement on Updates to NYCPS IESP Guidelines
Editor’s note: We previously published a story about the issues the City has been having with making the accommodations for children with disabilities that are required under federal laws. And the particular issue referenced by Rep. Malliotakis, where a new deadline was added to the regulations without warning, leaving many parents with disabled children unable to access their necessary services in their schools.
(NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis released the following statement regarding New York City Public Schools’ (NYCPS) new guidelines for parentally-placed students with disabilities to receive federally-mandated accommodations under the Individualized Education Services Program (IESP).
Under the new guidelines, families of students with disabilities who did not meet the filing deadline will need to sign a waiver in order to receive services, in addition to identifying their own provider that will serve their child at NYC DOE’s standard rates.
“While we’re somewhat pleased that NYCPS will begin to provide these federally-mandated services, it’s disheartening that the city is extorting families into waiving their right to appeal, pursue Enhanced Rate Equitable Services, or any due process in order to have these essential services restored. The city failed to provide families with proper notification of the IESP parental intent deadline, and the responsibility to rectify this situation should fall solely on NYCPS. I’ve inquired with the U.S. Department of Education regarding this issue, however, their ability to intervene is limited due to state law being more expansive, so we continue to urge our state and local government to do the right thing for these children. These families have had to deal with accommodations being cruelly stripped from their children, and now they are also burdened with finding their own provider in just two weeks time when there is already a shortage of qualified special education providers. This solution is unfair to families who want their children to receive the support they deserve, and I urge the city and state to stop playing games with our children’s education before the learning loss caused by this bureaucratic nightmare becomes irreparable.”
In October, Malliotakis joined local officials to call on the U.S. Department of Education to hold New York City accountable for violating federal law by failing to provide non-public school students with developmental disabilities the IESP accommodations they are entitled to under the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
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Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was sworn in on January 3, 2021 to represent Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. Prior to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 2, 2010, defeating a two-term incumbent. In the Assembly, she served as Minority Whip and the ranking minority member of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees. For five terms, Congresswoman Malliotakis fought to restore ethics in Albany, expand transit service in her district, improve programs for senior citizens, reform education and improve New York’s economic climate by reducing the tax burden on small businesses and residents. A cornerstone of her tenure was helping her community recover and rebuild following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In addition to advocating for these same issues in Washington, Congresswoman Malliotakis is acutely focused on securing New York’s fair share of federal mass transit funding, which would go towards expanding transportation services and easing traffic congestion, while also championing public safety by supporting our nation’s law enforcement officers. Congresswoman Malliotakis is the daughter of immigrants, her father from Greece and her mother a Cuban exile of the Castro dictatorship. She is currently the only Republican member representing New York City in Congress, representing a district spanning the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island. She is a passionate advocate for animal rights and the strengthening of animal cruelty laws, and in her spare time, enjoys spending time with her chihuahua, Peanut.