A federal court judge has signed off on a Consent Decree that settles a lawsuit against the Rochester City School District over the way it educates children with disabilities. The class action suit was filed about 18 months ago on behalf of about 6,500 Rochester special needs students.
The School District and the Empire Justice Center worked together on a plan to bring the district's special education plan in line with state and federal regulations. It puts into place a series of student performance goals the district must meet, and says the district must provide timely services for students with disabilities. They must also provide for increased parent participation in their children's education and improve the graduation rates of students with disabilities.