By Jessica Easthope
In the Diocese of Brooklyn, students are essentially being locked out of the academic help they require to thrive in class. A missed deadline for submitting paperwork and the legal barriers surrounding it have caused heartache for students and their families. Now, the use of those services for students are delayed, and progress has come to a screeching halt.
Over 250 students across the diocese’s elementary and high schools aren’t receiving the special education services they require after their letters of intent allowing private and parochial school students to get access to support provided by the public school system were signed and handed in after a June 1 deadline per part of the state’s legal process.
Luisa Manzo, Associate superintendent of Diocese of Brooklyn schools, says that this school year the June 1 deadline was strictly enforced. Though some families didn’t meet it, she knows there’s still a problem that needs to be solved.
“I think that deadlines are extremely important and that parents really need to respect them,” she tells Currents News. “However, right now, there is a serious issue.. whether it’s OT, whether it’s speech, without that support they’re kind of taking a step back.”
At. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy in Astoria, Queens, where student Joseph Salam goes to school, special education teacher support services provider Sabrina Cirabisi says she has a handful of students like him who she’s legally not allowed to interact with due to the missed form submission deadline.
“Without that form, I am not able to provide them with any of their services,” she says. “You can basically see desperation in their eyes.”
Susan Salam and her son Joseph look at his good grades every single day before they head out the door to school. They keep him motivated to do well, but this year in 5th grade all the motivation in the world hasn’t changed his reality.
Without access to these resources, “school is hard,” Joseph admits. “ELA is hard. I’m failing science… I just think I need the services, because I’m struggling.”
The school’s principal Liz Reilly says the consequences of this will have lasting impacts.
“The teacher moves forward and the divide between the students who can and the students who need help just grows,” she explains.
New York City Public Schools say they’re committed to serving every child who needs it, but while Joseph waits, the goal of staying on track is slipping away.
“This is damage that’s going to be irreversible,” says Cirabisi. “Self esteem suffers, their well-being suffers.”
Joseph’s mom is already seeing some of these effects in her son’s experience this academic year. “He did great last year, so why this year,” Salam asks. “My son is getting 50s and 40s and failing all his classes. “
“We spent three hours studying science and I got a bad grade,” he adds. “We spent hours on studying, and I still get a bad grade.”
Diocese of Brooklyn Superintendent Deacon Kevin McCormack says he understands the legal obligations of the New York City Public School system, but allowing bureaucratic red tape to hold up this kind of service is unacceptable.
“We have to stop hiding behind rules and we have got to start dealing with human beings,” he says. “That’s what’s essential here. How are we going to take care of kids in need?” ]
Diocese of Brooklyn schools officials are continuing to push for these services. Currents News reached out to New York City Public Schools, and as of air time there is no date for these students to receive services again.
The school system maintains their legal obligation is first to the families who had their paperwork in on time.
While students are being offered extra help by their teachers, families are also taking extra measures, going into their own pockets to seek outside paid help from private tutors.
That being said, the Diocese of Brooklyn is not pointing any fingers at parents who missed this deadline. They were notified of it, but they understand parents are sometimes inundated with emails and messaging can get lost in the mix.
However, the deadline and this required form are part of state law, and legally it’s not possible for students to receive services until this paperwork is sorted out.
The reality is that students won’t be able to meet the requirements they need to succeed in school until the circumstances improve.