ARTICLE: Students in special education now at 24 percent on Staten Island, outpacing other boroughs
Students in special education now at 24 percent on Staten Island, outpacing other boroughs
By Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com
on November 09, 2014 at 7:01 AM, updated November 10, 2014 at 10:50 AM
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The number of special-needs students in Staten Island schools is increasing at an unprecedented rate, outpacing Department of Education programs and resources in the district.
One in every four Staten Island students has an IEP (individualized education plan).
Staten Island has the highest percentage of students in the five boroughs with an IEP. According to DOE statistics, 24 percent of Staten Island students have an IEP. This compares to 23 percent in the Bronx; 19 percent in Manhattan; 19 percent in Brooklyn, and 16 percent in Queens.
The number of Staten Island students with an IEP, in the first semester of 2014-2015 alone, is up 4 percent from last year. Nearly 15,000 students, out of a total enrollment of just over 62,000, have an IEP.
For the entire 2012-2013 year, 20.5 percent, or 12,760 students, had an IEP, according to DOE and District 31 Community Education Council (CEC) figures.
The number of Staten Island students with an IEP has grown faster than the rate of total enrollment in the last seven years. For the 2007-2008 school year, Staten Island's District 31 had a total enrollment of 59,844 students, of which 10,654, or 17.8 percent, had an IEP, DOE and CEC show.
Special education advocates here said the figures come as no surprise. They attribute the steady rise to several factors, in particular the increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Nationwide, one in 68 children have autism, according to Centers for Disease Control estimates.
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and of course, more diagnostics.
People who are in their 50's 60's may have lead their early years in a more "natural" environment. (Of course, people who lived in large metropolitan areas have had exposure to lots of toxics for a long time)
But many of us grew up in smaller towns where floors were wood..rugs were cotton or wool..clothes were cotton, wool, linen...baby bottles were glass..baby bottle nipples were rubber..toys were wooden/cloth/tin/steel....foods were purer and meals were prepared from scratch.. there were few, if any, "fast food" places
Children born after the 80's have spent their entire lives living with plastics ansd assorted other chemically enhanced products..
Humanity evolves, but not as quickly as industry
..
Growing up, I never knew of anyone with diabetes, cancer, food allergies..An obese child was a rarity...
