Advocates for Children of New York
ACTION ALERT:  Protect special education services  in the New York State budget
Governor Cuomo's 2017-2018 budget proposal would allow school districts to seek broad waivers from laws and regulations that provide important protections for students with disabilities. For example, these waivers could allow school districts to avoid certain requirements regarding class size, behavior intervention plans, and notification of certain changes in placement. This broad waiver provision would erode students' rights. The New York State Legislature has rejected this proposal in the past. With the current political climate in Washington, we need the State to stand firm on rights for students with disabilities, not enact legislation would take these rights away.
Take Action: Contact Your Legislators
Call or e-mail your legislators and other key decision-makers and tell them to reject the special education waiver in the state budget. If you get voicemail, leave a message.

SAMPLE SCRIPT:
My name is [your name] and I am a [parent of a student with a disability/teacher/concerned constituent]. I am calling regarding the state budget. I want to make sure the budget does not include the special education waiver in Governor Cuomo's budget proposal. The special education waiver would allow school districts to take away important rights for students with disabilities, and I hope you will reject this proposal. Thank you.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
To reach your state legislators, call the NY Senate switchboard (518-455-2800) and NY Assembly switchboard (518-455-4100) and give your zip code. Alternatively, you can find your NY State Senator at www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator and your NY Assembly Member at www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/.

Key decision makers include:
Name
Phone
Email
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
518-455-3791
speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan
518-455-2071
flanagan@nysenate.gov
Senate Coalition Leader Jeffrey Klein
518-455-3595
jdklein@nysenate.gov
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb
518-455-3751
kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us
Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
518-455-2585
scousins@nysenate.gov
Assembly Education Committee Chair Catherine Nolan
518-455-4851
nolanc@assembly.state.ny.us
Senate Education Committee Chair Carl Marcellino
518-455-2390
marcelli@nysenate.gov
Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chair Herman Farrell, Jr.
518-455-5491
farrellh@assembly.state.ny.us
Senate Finance Committee Chair Catharine Young
518-455-3563 
cyoung@nysenate.gov
Forward this e-mail to other New Yorkers who may be interested in taking action.
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