NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.
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New York City Council
Requiring a study on how social and economic factors affect access to special education programs and services
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Council staff announces the Committee on Education vote is about to begin, asks attendees to silence electronic devices, and tells them not to approach the dais. Staff then signals Chair Dinowitz that the committee is ready to begin.
Chair Eric Dinowitz opens the meeting, identifies himself as Chair of the Committee on Education, and welcomes colleagues present. He lists Council Members Gutierrez, Lewis, Zhuang, De La Rosa, Wong, Shulman, and Farias on Zoom.
Dinowitz states the committee is voting on two items: Proposed Introduction 853-A, sponsored by Council Member Zhuang, on social and economic factors affecting special education access, and Resolution 650, sponsored by Council Member Gutierrez, opposing the federal Head Start rule change.
Dinowitz details Intro 853-A, which requires DOE to supplement special education reporting with analysis of geographic location, home language, and household income. He notes NYC's large special education system, federal IDEA obligations, a 2023 Comptroller report on missed services, and the bill's requirement to identify barriers and recommend fixes.
Dinowitz describes Resolution 650, which opposes the federal proposed rule 'Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs.' He says the rule would weaken standards, allow larger classes, reduce teacher qualifications, cut health and family supports, and restrict non-English instruction, potentially harming vulnerable children.
Dinowitz thanks his staff and Education Committee staff, including counsel and policy analysts, for preparing the vote. He then turns the meeting over to the clerk to conduct the roll call.
Committee Clerk Ben Jacobs begins the roll call on both items. Chair Dinowitz votes aye; Council Members Lewis, Brewer, De La Rosa, Farias, Gutierrez, Joseph, Krishnan, Lee, Narcisse, Shulman, Zhuang, and Wong are called, with Wong voting aye on Intro 853-A and nay on Resolution 650.
The clerk reports 8 affirmative, 0 negative on Intro 853-A and 7 affirmative, 1 negative on Resolution 650, with no abstentions. The items are adopted, but staff says the vote will be held open, likely for absent members.
After the vote is held open, the clerk continues the roll call. Council Member Linda Lee votes aye, and Council Member Mercedes Narcisse also votes aye on the two items.
While the roll call remains open, Dinowitz notes the vote started at 9:00 AM and thanks teachers, students, principals, and school aides who arrive much earlier. He acknowledges educators who get to school before 8:00 AM and sometimes around 7:30 AM.
Council Member Shekar Krishnan asks if the meeting is still rolling, and the clerk continues the roll call. Krishnan votes aye and thanks the Chair.
The clerk announces final results: Intro 853-A passes 11 affirmative, 0 negative, no abstentions; Resolution 650 passes 10 affirmative, 1 negative, no abstentions. Both items are adopted.
Chair Dinowitz thanks the committee and declares the vote adjourned.