Critical Pre-School Special Ed Services Are Not Reaching All Students Who Need Them
Pre-school students in need of special education services are not always getting the help they need or are getting services late, according to an audit released by State Comptroller DiNapoli. The audit of the State Department of Education (SED) found many local school districts maintain waitlists for services because there are not enough providers, and SED’s oversight of services was hindered because it did not know how many students were enrolled in the preschool special education service program, the services they are receiving in real time, or the number of districts using waitlists.
“Providing timely, quality early education services to preschool children with special needs can make a world of difference in their development, and delays can have long term consequences for their academic futures,” DiNapoli said. “Too many children are not getting the services and therapies they are entitled to within required timeframes, and some are not getting the services at all. The State Education Department and school districts must do a better job serving these students. I am pleased that SED agreed with our findings and has taken several steps to improve service delivery for students entitled to these essential special education services.”
Spotlight on Corning, NY
State Comptroller DiNapoli released an economic and fiscal profile of the City of Corning, where economic development and smart growth initiatives have helped build on the City's stable fiscal picture.
DiNapoli Tracks NYC Agency Performance, Recommends Greater Transparency
New York City’s government workforce reached more than 300,000 employees in June of 2024, the first year-over-year increase since the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, some City agencies remain understaffed, resulting in critical services being impacted, according to a report released by State Comptroller DiNapoli.
State Contract and Payment Actions in October
In October, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,982 contracts for State agencies and public authorities valued at $5 billion and approved nearly 2 million payments worth more than $16.5 billion. The office rejected 269 contracts and related transactions valued at $1 billion and more than 1,800 payments valued at more than $9.1 million, primarily for mistakes, insufficient support for charges, and improper payments. More information on these contracts and payments is available at Open Book New York.
Troy's Proposed Bond Financing for Its Lead Pipe Replacement Program Is Lawful and Constitutional
In response to a request from the Troy City Council, State Comptroller DiNapoli issued an advisory opinion finding that the City could lawfully issue bonds in connection with financing the City seeks from the State Environmental Facilities Corporation under a federal program to help fund its replacement of public and private lead water service lines without running afoul of the State Constitution’s prohibition on using public funds for private purposes.
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