The SWD seat ensures that students with disabilities have equitable access to a wide variety of schools. The DOE calculates the student seat type by dividing the number of class periods per week the student spends receiving special education instructional services (not related services) by the total weekly number of class periods (excluding lunch).
DOE Formula for Determining SWD Seat
Seats for Students with Disabilities (SWD)
Available for students who receive special education instructional services for more than 20% of their weekly academic program through their current IEP.
Seats for General Education (GE) Students
Available for:
All students who receive general education programming
For admissions purposes only, students who receive special education instructional services for 20% or less of their weekly academic program through their current IEP are considered general education students
The Criteria
Special Education Services and Instruction Criteria for SWD Seat
Will Count toward SWD Seat
Special education instructional services:
Support Services (SETSS)
Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT)
Special Education Class (self-contained)
Will Not Count toward SWD Seat
Special education related services:
Speech Therapy
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Counseling
Physical Therapy (PT)
The seat type will be automatically noted on a student’s application, including on their “My Schools” account.
These seat groups apply only for admissions purposes. Students with IEPs are expected to receive all of the services on their IEP in their new schools.
Parents should consult with school staff to confirm which seat their student’s application will count as.
Case Examples
Maria and Will’s school has 35 periods per week (excluding lunch). Calculate their percentage of special education instructional services by dividing the number of periods each student receives these services by 35, the total of non-lunch class periods.
Maria is in a special class setting for a combined 20 periods a week.
20 ÷ 35 = 57%
Maria’s application will count towards a SWD seat because her special education instructional services are over the 20% mark.
Will receives SETSS once a day for 5 total periods a week.
5 ÷ 35 = 14%
Will’s application will not count towards a SWD seat because his special education instructional services are below the 20% mark. He would apply for a general education seat.
Get to know the basics of transitioning into life after high school for students with disabilities, including changes in disability law, planning, procedures…
In this workshop, you’ll learn: NYC families & professionals are welcome. Presented by the Brooklyn Early Childhood Family and Community Engagement (FACE)…
Children learn and develop vocabulary best when the discovery of new words and their meaning is introduced both at home and in school. Through this training…
Children learn and develop vocabulary best when the discovery of new words and their meaning is introduced both at home and in school. Through this training…
If a student communicates in a language other than English, the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) may identify the student as an English Language Learner (ELL).
