Study: Education Dept. Fails To Answer Calls
By Staff Reporter of the Sun | March 26, 2007
The Department of Education fails to respond to about half of the phone queries it receives from parents of special education students, according to a report to be released today by the city's public advocate, Betsy Gotbaum.
The department failed to reply to 52 of 98 calls made by investigators posing as parents of children with special needs, the report found. Non-English speakers faced even more difficulty getting answers.
"Parents should get the special education information they need, in the language they speak, in a timely manner," a department spokeswoman, Melody Meyer, said. "We are looking forward to Chief Family Engagement Officer Martine Guerrier's insight and suggestions."
