New York City to Loan iPads to Private-School Students, Prioritizing Special Needs

The New York City Department of Education has announced that it will extend its iPad loan program to students in private schools, prioritizing those who receive special education and related services from the City.

The devices are loaned to students during the coronavirus pandemic, and must be returned when on-site classes resume. More information, and registration, on the iPad program is available at https://teachcoalition.org/blog/teach-nys-lauds-new-york-city-doe-program-to-offer-free-ipads-for-nonpublic-school-students-receiving-special-education/

Avrohom Adler, International Director of Yachad’s IVDU schools for individuals with special needs, said, “This program is critical and will help ease the burden that so many of our students and their families have carried.”

Teach NYS Executive Director Maury Litwack hailed the announcement Tuesday as “a step forward in both inclusion and equity of government resource distribution.”

“Without technology, nonpublic school students with individualized education plans (IEPs) cannot receive critical services and programs vital to their progress while schools remain closed due to social distancing,” said Litwack, vowing that private-school advocates “will continue to fight for free iPad distribution to all nonpublic school children, none of whom can afford to fall behind.”

Councilman Chaim Deutsch told Hamodia that the city should have included the private-school students all along.

“While I applaud the city for finally agreeing to include some nonpublic school students in their tablet loan program, I have serious problems with the delay,” said Deutsch. “Why do I need to beg, fight, and shame the city into equal treatment for nonpublic school students? Why do nonpublic school kids have to wait seven weeks to be offered the same rights as public school kids?”

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rborchardt@hamodia.com