From: Regina Skyer <rskyer@skyerlaw.com>
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 10:39 AM
To: Davidcbanks@schools.nyc.gov <Davidcbanks@schools.nyc.gov>
Subject: In Response
Dear Chancellor Banks,
I read with interest your comments made at a press conference yesterday regarding tuition payments to private schools for special education students. As you may know, my office is one of the largest in the city representing parents whose children have not been able to secure adequate special education services from the DOE, and we are unapologetic about our work ensuring an appropriate education for these most needy of students. To that end, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and work collaboratively to make our public schools better. I have extended this offer to every chancellor since I began practicing law.
As stated repeatedly by Advocates for Children of New York as well as myself and the attorneys working alongside my office representing parents of disabled children, our students are left with no option but to seek a unilateral remedy, including placement in private special education school, when the DOE fails to provide them an educational opportunity that is individualized to address their unique educational deficits and needs.
I have many thoughts as to how to make public special education programs meet the needs of our students. For example the ASD Nest Program is coveted and needs to be in every public school. Mayor Adams’s dyslexia initiative has to start immediately in every public school. There is no magic formula as to what makes private special education schools so effective, and I know NYC could achieve what we all want – an education for all students that confers a meaningful benefit.
I appreciate your efforts in the considerable challenge of running the nation’s largest school system, and I stand ready to provide any insight I can into how to ensure our schools can best accommodate students with disabilities.
Very sincerely,
Regina Skyer
Law Offices of Regina Skyer and Associates
142 Joralemon Street – Suite 1120
Brooklyn, NY 11201
212-532-9736