Shefa School panel discussion Jan 30 w/Skyer Law partner Abbie Smith

Skyer Law partner Abbie Smith is speaking on a panel about the IEP process and special education law aimed at parents of students with language-based learning differences. This event is sponsored by the Shefa School.

Thursday, January 30, 2020
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The Shefa School, 40 East 29th Street

This event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required: office@shefaschool.org

Event description from the Shefa School website:

American law guarantees that every child receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). But what happens when the local school district fails to meet this basic obligation, which happens all too often? Parents need to know how to advocate for their child and when to bring in educational advocates and lawyers to help them navigate the messy and confusing process.

Our three esteemed panelists are accomplished educational attorneys who will explain the IEP/CSE process and describe how parents can seek reimbursement for an independent special education school as well as secure transportation and other important resources that many students are entitled to. Please join us to learn the basics of what you need to know as a parent or educator and when to seek the help of a professional to make sure your child receives the education they need and deserve.

Panelists:
Alexandra Hindes, Law Offices Of Neal Rosenberg
Irina Roller, Law Offices of Irina Roller
Abbie Smith, Skyer Law

A Charter School for Students with Language-Based Disabilities on Staten Island

About 1 in 5 students has a language-based learning disability, of which dyslexia is most prevalent. And in the borough of Staten Island, there has long been a dearth of appropriate school placements that can adequately address these common learning issues for the over 40,000 students PK-8.  In fact, young students who live on Staten Island are sometimes bused for hours to other boroughs to get their educational needs met.

Bridge Preparatory Charter School for Creative Thinkers (aka Bridge Prep) hopes to change this dynamic. The proposed public charter school recently passed the first hurdle of the charter review process in Albany. Bridge Prep plans to open its doors to Staten Island residents for the 2018-19 school year, and while charter approval isn’t a sure thing, the project enjoys strong support from the Staten Island community, including from Borough President James Oddo, and hopes are high for an on-time opening.

The plan for year one, as outlined in Bridge Prep's letter of intent to the state education department, is to open five classes of no more than 12 students (one class for Grade 1, two classes each for Grades 2 and 3). By the 2022-23 school year, the student body will grow to over 300 students from Grades 1 – 7.

Public charter schools have free tuition. Applications will be open to Staten Island residents and filled by lottery.

Congratulations to the founders and to everyone who has worked so hard on behalf of students with dyslexia on Staten Island!