by Common Ground | Feb 4, 2026 | Current-Issue, Features, February 2026
Special education helps millions of students with disabilities learn, grow, and succeed in school. For these students, services like speech therapy, classroom supports, and individualized instruction are not extras—they are what make learning possible. Federal law...
by Common Ground | Feb 4, 2026 | Current-Issue, February 2026, Professionals
School-based specialists—including speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and school counselors—play a critical role in supporting students with disabilities. Through daily interactions with students, these professionals witness...
by Common Ground | Feb 4, 2026 | Current-Issue, February 2026, Q&A
Q: What services should the school pay for? A: Schools must pay for services listed in your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). This can include special instruction, speech or occupational therapy, transportation, classroom supports, and assistive...
by Common Ground | Feb 4, 2026 | Courts, Current-Issue, February 2026
A federal judge has overturned a state administrative order that forced a Gloucester County school district to cover the costs of independent evaluations obtained by the parent of a former student with a disability. The decision marks a significant development in a...
by Common Ground | Feb 4, 2026 | Current-Issue, February 2026, Watch This
In this podcast-style episode of The Opportunity Gap, Assistant Principal Julian Saavedra discusses how federal funding supports kids with disabilities, and the gaps in support. Explore the video description for additional resources provided by...
by Common Ground | Nov 16, 2025 | Features, November 2025
Students with disabilities can face many different kinds of abuse in schools, and these experiences can have lasting effects on their confidence, mental health, and ability to learn. One type is verbal abuse, which happens when students are teased, mocked, or called...
by Common Ground | Nov 16, 2025 | November 2025, Parents
Emotional abuse often leaves no physical marks, but the psychological effects can be long-lasting. For students with disabilities, the signs might be dismissed as part of their condition rather than a reaction to mistreatment. That’s why it’s crucial for parents to...
by Common Ground | Nov 16, 2025 | November 2025, Q&A
Q: My child with a disability may have been abused or neglected at school. What should I do first? A: If you suspect abuse or neglect (for example: physical injury, inappropriate restraint, neglect of care, etc.), you should immediately report the concern to the state...
by Common Ground | Nov 16, 2025 | Capitols, November 2025
Since 1972, the Department of Education (DOE) has collected data that has been used by researchers, educators, and policymakers to draw conclusions and develop policies that influence American education. Local school administrators would use the data to track...
by Common Ground | Nov 16, 2025 | November 2025, Snapshot
During the 2022-23 school year, 2,470 students in New Jersey were subject to restraint and/or seclusion. Of the 2,470 students, 2,311 of them experienced either physical or mechanical restraint. Students with disabilities make up 85% of students subjected to physical...
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