LETTERS 96

































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Letters 96
EPP August 1996 Letter on Special Education/Summer School

August 7, 1996

Chancellor Rudolph Crew
New York City Board of Education
110 Livingston Street
New York, NY 11201

Dear Chancellor Crew:

Last week our office received information that shocked and surprised us. We were told that the student-to-teacher ratio in summer school programs in District 75 was 1.6 students for every teacher. We were told that the reason the ratio was so small was that an agreement exists between the Board of Education and the United Federation of Teachers to the effect that each summer school program shall be staffed so as to be able to serve the school's current student population from September to June, no matter whether only a fraction of families choose the option of enrolling their children in a summer school program.

We would like to know if this report is accurate, both as to the student-teacher ratio and the agreement with the UFT. We request data on: 1) the average daily attendance of District 75 students in programs from June through August for 1995 and for July 1996; 2) school-based staffing in District 75 programs during the above periods of time; and 3) the number of teachers in District 75 classrooms during the above periods of time.

We hope that the data you will provide us will give us assurance that the information we received was erroneous. Over the last seven months, EPP organizational members and EPP staff earnestly and publicly opposed the Governor's proposal to reduce the state's funding of summer special education programs. We would also appreciate knowing from your staff when you can provide us with this information so that we do not have to make further inquiries.

Sincerely,
Jan Atwell, Chairperson
Noreen Connell, Executive Director

cc
Deputy Chancellor Harry Spence
Chief Fiscal Officer Beverly Donohue
Deputy Chancellor Judith Rizzo
District 75 Superintendent Susan Erber

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