NYC school system: It doesn't matter if it works or not as long as the intentions were good. Another government bureaucratic failure it's how socialism works

Farina must tell judge why computer failed special-education students

Department of Education Chancellor Carmen Fariña will have to tell a judge why the city’s school system has failed special-education students, a new ruling says. 

Manhattan Judge Lynn Kotler ordered the special tribunal in response to a suit filed by Public Advocate ­Letitia James in February. 

James had found that a $130 million computer program that monitors the city’s 200,000 special-education students is “incapable of providing citywide data.”

As a result, disabled students have missed out on services and the city has had to pay $38 million in overtime, according to James’ lawsuit. 

Fariña has resisted an inquiry into the $130 million program, known as the Special Education Student Information System, or SESIS. 

So James sued using an obscure state law meant to shine a light on “neglect of duty” by public officials. 

Judge Kotler granted the suit and set an initial hearing date for next month. 

The special-education probe will be the first time such an inquiry has been conducted in a New York state court since 1900. 

A DOE spokeswoman said, “We are reviewing our options.” 

James said: “This is an important milestone towards justice for every child and family that has suffered at the inadequacy of the Department of Education. This dysfunctional system has not only let down our children with disabilities, but has also cheated our taxpayers.”