Families with disabled children often live here Dramatic situations in private schools City. They say that, with some exceptions, they reject them without a clear explanation, and often, this refusal is not recorded in writing, which is Claim is prohibited.
For this reason, various civil society organizations, specialists in educational law, representatives of institutions, and mothers and fathers of children with disabilities have promoted this year the Buenos Aires Reform Law No. 2681 (Registration) With the aim of “more transparency, inclusion and protection of rights in access to education”.
And this project This Thursday it became law. The Buenos Aires legislature approved the decision with a majority of 44 votes in favor.
The initiative sets new controls regarding job vacancies and enrollment processes in private schools integrated into formal education. Among them is the necessity of establishing a Register of public functions For private schools included in the official system.
The new law seeks Eliminate arbitrary rejection. It states that private schools They may not refuse registration or re-registration without a legitimate reason And if there is one, Describe in detail the definition of “just cause”: It will only be valid if it does not contravene constitutional rights, CABA rights or international treaties (particularly children and disabilities). It also gives families the right to request these reasons in the event of refusal.
As for what’s new Register of public functionsNow the city’s Department of Education must create and publish it, reporting the number of vacancies available for each grade and year in each school, whether for the current school year or the next. Each institution, for its part, must update its information either on its institutional website or on the official website of the Ministry.
Previous discussions in the Education Committee headed by Representative Sergio Siciliano, which witnessed heated exchanges of opinions, included the participation of representatives of civil society organizations, specialists in education law, institutions related to disability, and relatives of school-age children. They have revealed themselves Certificates of distinction, Especially when it comes to students with disabilities.
For Genoveva Ferrero, “The goal has always been simple and very humane, which is for families with children with challenges in our city to have a place in a private school without going through a maze of obstacles, silence and closed doors. Today, with this law, we take a historic step in this sense.” We have put an end to the painful pilgrimage for families Who for years have toured institutions begging for a place where their children can exercise a right that should never be questioned.” Likewise, he noted that “from the Disability Observatory of the City Judiciary, we will continue to work tirelessly. We will harness every resource, every tool, and every drop of energy so that no child in this city will ever again have to ask permission to access their basic right: to learn, grow, and belong.
“Although we consider that the law does not magically solve all the school attendance problems experienced by neurodivergent children, we believe that it is.” Another step we take towards coexistence, That is why we have supported the initiative since we were invited to learn about the project. “At Teactiva, we do not stop receiving complaints from families who have very serious problems sending their children to school, but this problem will only be solved when schools open to neurodiversity,” said Paulo Morales, president of the TEActiva civic association.