The New York State Board of Regents is proposing to take away critically important rights from Catholic school parents of children with special needs – while keeping these rights for public school families. Specifically, the proposal would prohibit Catholic and other private school parents from seeking an “impartial hearing” when they have a concern with the implementation of special education services provided to their child by the local public school district. Impartial Hearings have proven essential in ensuring that children get the special education services they need. Denying private school families this right while allowing it for public school parents creates a double standard which is clearly unfair and unacceptable. We urge you to add your name to this petition which urges the NYS Board of Regents to withdraw their proposal.
The Catholic school community is united in its opposition to the Regents’ proposal to amend Part 200.5 eliminating due process rights of private school families while maintaining these rights for public school families. This double standard is grossly unfair and simply unacceptable. Catholic school families already shoulder the dual burden of paying taxes to support public schools as well as tuition for Catholic school. Trying to obtain special education services for needy children only adds to this burden. The Regents proposal is a heart-breaking blow to Catholic school families, and we urge its defeat.