CM Zhuang for Brooks-Powers on digital divide, charter IEP, and 2K expansion

Great.

I just want to ask a couple questions on behalf of Councilmember Brooks Powers, because she couldn't stay earlier.

So last year, the council passed her bill, Local Law 16, that requires the DOE to issue a biannual report on students'access to the Internet and electronic devices, as well as provide recommendations for how to close the digital divide.

The first report is due by January 2027.

What progress can the department report on this study, and can you confirm that you will be able to meet the January 2027 deadline?

We'll have to get back to you on that.

I'm not sure we have time right now.

Okay, perfect.

And then her second question was, we continue to hear concerns from parents with special needs children about how their kids enroll in charter schools and are forced to transition to public school after one month of enrollment because their charter school cannot provide the relevant IEP services.

What is DOE doing to ensure parents are aware of their rights regarding student transfers and IEP services?

Yeah, obviously we want to serve our students with disabilities in public schools, of course.

And when our charter school colleagues don't meet that, have concerns, we...

We do have a mechanism for ensuring charter schools are paid for students with IEPs that they serve, but I want to turn it over to Christina to talk.

Yeah, so as the LEA, we are responsible for special education IEP provision.

So when that is not happening at a school and the child, you know, the school is saying that the child can't remain or they can't meet the child's needs, first of all, we look to partner with the school to see how we can work together to get those needs met.

And if the family would like to leave, we walk the parent individually through the process of offering a public school placement.

Perfect.

So you guys would walk the parents through their rights.

That's right.

And I'm assuming there's ample translation services and interpretation.

Okay.

That's right.

Okay.

And her last question was, School District 27 in Queens is among the first districts to receive free 2K seats, which she's very excited about.

How does the administration plan to build on this pilot expanding access across more districts?

Sorry, what was the pilot?

Oh, for the 2K?

Oh, 2K.

Yeah, sorry.

Yeah, in her district, yes.

All right.

So how do you plan to build on the pilot, expanding access across more districts?

Yeah, thank you for that.

As you know, this is the beginning first year.

We have 2,000 seats, and we'll be expanding next year to 12.

And so, Simone, Deputy Chancellor, would you like to share more?

That's precisely right.

Thank you, Chancellor.

We will be adding another.

10,000 seats next year.

We have not confirmed the where and the who will be providing those, but we are in active conversations on planning out those specifics.

Perfect.

Thank you.