NYC Officials Took Their Families on Trips Meant for Homeless Kids: A Disney World Scandal

NYC Education Officials Took Their Families on Trips Meant for Homeless Kids: A Disney World Scandal

Six New York City Department of Education employees are accused of taking spots away from homeless students on city-funded trips by bringing their own families, including a trip to Disney World.

According to a report by the Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) for New York City schools, the employees allegedly robbed disadvantaged children of the opportunity to go on educational excursions to places like Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Boston, and upstate New York between 2016 and 2019. The employees, including Linda Wilson, the regional manager for the NYC Department of Education’s Queens Students in Temporary Housing, allegedly encouraged each other to bring their families on these trips.

The SCI report details how Wilson, in particular, allegedly forged permission slips in the names of students to justify taking her own daughters on these trips. She also allegedly scheduled trips under the pretense of visiting colleges, but instead diverted the trips to other destinations, like Niagara Falls.

Wilson's alleged actions have been condemned by the SCI, who recommended that she and the five other employees be terminated and pay restitution to the DOE. While the cases were not referred for criminal prosecution, this scandal has raised serious questions about the integrity of the NYC Department of Education and its commitment to providing opportunities for all students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/09/1200/675/Disney-World-Magic-Kingdom.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1" alt="Magic Kingdom, at Walt Disney World" width="1200" height="675"><img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/COmmerce-classroom-essentials-iStock-468080339.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1" alt="classroom" width="1200" height="675"><img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2020/08/1200/675/Empty-Classroom-iStock-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1" alt="empty Classroom" width="1200" height="675">