How To Make P311 Work For Your Child

Eventually, almost all parents of NYC special needs kids are stymied by a branch of DOE not doing what they are supposed to do. We have all been there, and the range of roadblocks is vast and variegated:

• DOE claiming that they do not provide integrated co-teaching at a specific school
• DOE claiming that they are too backed up to convene an IEP meeting in the near future
• DOE not implementing an IEP student’s DOE-provided MacBook
• DOE refusing to evaluate in all (or any) areas of suspected disability
• DOE not providing related services, for example speech, occupational therapy, counseling, etc.

 
The good news is that DOE does have a hotline and I am here to help you navigate it! 
Here are my SIX STEPS to P311:

• Call P311 at 718-935-2007
• Have your child’s basic information ready, including their NYC DOE ID# (the 9-digit OSIS #)
• Explain your complaint politely but firmly: “I am calling because I can’t seem to even schedule an IEP meeting in the next 4 months. Can you help?”
• After they reply, make sure you ask for the ticket number and write it down (it’s like getting a receipt- SAVE THIS NUMBER) 
• Then immediately email specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov and put the ticket number in the subject line along with the name of your child and his OSIS # [RE: Mary Jones, OSIS# 333444555, P311 Ticket# 397865] and BRIEFLY summarize the P311 call as in “I just called P311 explaining that I have been unable to get an IEP meeting scheduled in a timely way and they said they would look into it. I hope you can help.”
• Repeat this every week, until your complaint is resolved.

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While P311 will not resolve every complaint, I have been amazed at the speed and complexity of the complaints that they have been able to resolve. It’s a terrific resource for parents, so do follow the above recipe use it effectively as one more arrow in the quiver of being an IEP parent/warrior for your child!  ​