Agudah’s Yeshiva Services department is happy to share the recent landmark court decision ordering the NYC Department of Education to take significant steps in addressing long-standing delays in providing special education services. This momentous ruling comes as a much-needed victory for families who have struggled to access the essential services their children deserve.
The court’s order, handed down by U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska, marks a significant step towards streamlining the process of providing special education services to families who have already won legal battles to secure them. The decision mandates that the Department of Education assign additional staff to address the overwhelming backlog of cases and accelerate the delivery of essential services within specified timeframes. The decision also mandates more transparency into the payments and reimbursements process, clearer communications, and a marked improvement in customer service towards parents and providers.
For decades, Agudath Israel has been at the forefront of championing the rights of students with disabilities through its Project LEARN and, more recently, Yahalom departments. We have tirelessly worked to ensure that every child, regardless of their unique needs, receives the quality education they are entitled to.
“While we celebrate this momentous court decision, we also recognize that there is much work ahead to create an education system that truly caters to the needs of all students,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Pinkus, director of Yeshiva Services. “Agudath Israel remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the rights of children with disabilities and will continue to collaborate with the Department of Education and other stakeholders to ensure these much-needed reforms are implemented effectively.”
As we move forward, the Yeshiva Services Department of Agudath Israel looks forward to working hand in hand with the Department of Education to facilitate the implementation of the court’s order and make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of students with disabilities.