In-person summer special education allowed, Cuomo says

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With schools  physically closed because of the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March, State Assemblywoman and Atlantic Beach resident Melissa “Missy” Miller has been hearing from parents with special needs children that their children’s education was declining due to not being in-class. Miller contacted the governor’s office to raise awareness on the issue.

Gov. Cuomo signed an executive order on June 5 that will allow school districts to offer in-person special education classes this summer. 

I just issued an Executive Order allowing necessary in-person special education instruction this summer,” Cuomo tweeted on June 5. “Any school district providing these services must follow all state and federal guidance.”

No guidelines have been put out by the state for reopening  as Miller noted that the governor’s office is currently working with the State Education Department on creating  a plan.

“I think with this executive order, the governor is acknowledging the population of students who have individual education programs,” Miller said. “This is a huge first step and I’m very grateful that he put out this executive order.”

Cuomo initially stated in May that summer learning programs would not be taking place, which prompted Miller to write a letter to the governor on June 2 in which she explained how her special needs son, Oliver, 20, who has suffered from daily seizures, compounded by blindness and developmental delays that stem from a seizure he had before he was born, was regressing when it came to learning outside the classroom during the pandemic.  

Miller noted that she had spoken with other parents about how not having individualized education program classes every day was impacting their children. “I have heard  from so many parents whose child’s education has been regressing from remote learning,” she said. “Remote learning and therapies have been too difficult to accomplish and have not been beneficial for so many of these students. This has been the case for my son Oliver.” 

The time in the classroom for special needs students is crucial, according to Miller. “The quality time they have in a classroom with experienced professionals is so critical and just what they so desperately need,” she said. “These students are in need of 12 months of learning as that had already been determined prior to this pandemic.”