The Education of Children in Private Schools: A State Agency's Perspective

The State of New York has utilized the private school sector for the education of children with handicapping conditions for some 20 years. As a state education agency, New York has had many appeals to the Commissioner of Education. The appeals to the Commissioner form the interpretative policy basis for implementing P.L. 94–142 in New York. The decisions of the Commissioner are summarized with respect to (a) least restrictive environment, (b) placements made by parents, (c) untimely appeals, and (d) exhaustion. The monitoring efforts of the State Education Department regarding private schools are also discussed as are the reasons for the state's prohibition on contracting with many private schools.