NYS Special Education Task Force

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DRNY is Temporarily Hosting the NYS Special Education Task Force Website

Video produced for Special Education Task Force describing the mission of the Task Force

What We Do

The New York State Special Education Task Force (NYSETF) was originally formed as a local task force in the Capital Region and focused on improving the educational outcomes of students with disabilities. The task force purposefully promoted participation and collaboration among all stakeholders, including parents, advocates, attorneys, school personnel, service providers, educators, government representatives and individuals with disabilities. Because of the outstanding success of the model, the Capital District Task Force unanimously agreed to promote the development of Task Forces in other regions across the State while establishing a Statewide Special Education Task Force to support, facilitate and represent regional task forces.

Purpose

The New York State Special Education Task Force serves six important purposes:

  1. Increase awareness of issues and trends in different parts of the state;
  2. Increase awareness of proposed and actual changes in law and policy; Increase awareness of, and access to, resources and advocacy tools;
  3. Actively develop regional State Task Force affiliates in all areas of the State and ensure that each regional affiliate reflects and promotes the collaboration of diverse stakeholders;
  4. Enhance knowledge and connections to create sustainable collaborations at the local level; and
  5. Provide a statewide forum for diverse stakeholders to collaborate and promote improvement in the educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

Regional Affiliate Task Forces

With the support of the State Task Force, Regional Affiliate task forces serve several important purposes:

  • Providing a forum where all parents, advocates, attorneys, school personnel, service providers and individuals with disabilities can discuss issues, policies, proposed changes to law and regulations impacting students with disabilities;
  • Purposefully choosing and conducting all activities in a manner which promotes participation and collaboration of stakeholders and interested persons in the region;     
  • Promoting and encouraging networking, discussion and initiatives among stakeholders and interested persons in the region;
  • Identifying issues impacting students with disabilities and promoting awareness of such issues among all stakeholders in the region; and
  • Sharing information about issues, trends, gaps, and initiatives related to students with disabilities with the State Task Force.

View more information on establishing or joining a Regional Affiliate