Final agreement about the terms finally drafted

Justin Murphy – Rochester Democrat and Chronicle USA TODAY NETWORK – in the D&C on 12/7/2020 on page A1

After several years of fitful negotiations, the Rochester City School District and the Empire Justice Center have drafted a final agreement on a consent decree meant to solve the district’s special education woes.

Late last month they filed in federal court a document known as a “stipulation of agreement,” laying out the steps the district will take to improve special education, the targets it must meet and the consequences if it fails to do so.

There are 14 such targets ranging across a variety of measures: academic performance, student discipline, parent participation, having students in the least restrictive setting and ensuring staff are properly trained and certified.