Says deal to improve services not executedIan Bauder THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
A federal judge has ruled that the District failed to comply with a two-year-old agreement to improve services for special-needs students and has set forth an exhaustive list of questions for Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee to answer when she testifies Oct. 20, as the judge ordered last month.
In a harsh appraisal, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman wrote, "The District has not made those requirements a priority and has not tasked particular individuals ... with day-to-day hands-on responsibility [for them] ...
"Indeed, it is not even clear to the Court whether ... it is [D.C. public schools] or the [Office of the State Superintendent of Education] that is responsible for implementing certain Consent Decree requirements."
Judge Friedman also ordered State Superintendent Deborah A. Gist to appear before him with Mrs. Rhee. More
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Reporting Suspected Special Education Violations of the Blackman/Jones Decree
Dear DC Special Education Teacher,
Please inform DCPS parents, teachers and school staff how they can anonymously report certain categories of apparent violations of special education policies and procedures.
The Blackman/Jones consent decree establishes certain requirements and procedures to which DCPS has consented. Its primary focus is on:
1. Obstacles to proper implementation of hearing officer decisions, settlement agreements and/or resolution of complaints; and
2. The proper deployment of special education and related service staff and resources (including funds) to meet the IEP services and timely assessment needs of students.
If anyone thinks he has evidence of recurring practices or issues that they consider relevant and requiring to the attention of those charged with oversight over the decree's implementation, they can report the matter, including any supporting evidence, to the court appointed monitor, Ms. Amy Totenberg, Esq. (Blackman/Jones Monitor, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia). They can be sent anonymously with no return address to:
Amy Totenberg
757 Flat Shoals Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
404-622-6970 office
atotenberg@aol.com
AND/OR
To the plaintiffs' counsel, Ira Burnim, at the Bazelon clinic:
Ira Burnim, Esq.
Judge David Bazelon Center
1101 15th St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-467-5730
Fax: 202-223-0409
irab@bazelon.org
Thank you,
DC SPED-vocate
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