by Common Ground | Feb 26, 2020 | Better IEPs, Uncategorized
By Jessica Lenhart Progress monitoring is essential to ensuring that a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is appropriate. Research reveals that sharing progress data is a best practice for improving IEP meetings. (i) Yet, the failure to properly report and...
by Common Ground | Feb 24, 2020 | Capitols
In response to widespread and increasing mental health needs of teens and youth, Governor Phil Murphy announced a multi-pronged effort through schools and institutions of higher education to support youth mental health. The Department of Human Services, in partnership...
by Common Ground | Feb 24, 2020 | Capitols
In January, Governor Phil Murphy signed “Paul’s Law.” The measure authorizes parents or guardians to request the use of an Individualized Health Plan (IHP) for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. The legislation also requires boards of education to ensure...
by Common Ground | Feb 24, 2020 | Q&A
Q: What is Extended School Year? A: ESY means educational programming beyond the traditional 180-day school year. Q: Who determines ESY eligibility? A: Every student with a disability under IDEA must be considered for ESY services. The determination is made on an...
by Common Ground | Feb 24, 2020 | Parents, Professionals, Students, Teachers
By Gerard Thiers Federal law requires that every eligible child with disabilities – more than 220,000 in New Jersey – receive a “free and appropriate” education. Of course, special education services are not free. While they are provided at no cost to students or...
by Common Ground | Feb 24, 2020 | Watch This
In this short TEDxTalk, Travis Davis, a graduate student at the University of New Mexico talks about the value of social inclusion, the role of inviting good questions to break down...
by Common Ground | Feb 23, 2020 | Courts
A judge has ordered a Morris County School district to reimburse the parents of a child with disabilities for four years of private school tuition and transportation as a result of the district’s failure to provide FAPE. The parents had unilaterally placed their son...
by Common Ground | Feb 23, 2020 | Courts
A federal judge heard oral arguments in the case against the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) for failing to meet federal and state timelines for hearing disputes between families and school districts over services provided to students with disabilities. The...
by Common Ground | Feb 5, 2020 | Parents, Professionals, Students, Teachers, Watch This
Our friends at the Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL) in New York made this fun video, Get the Job… Keep the Job! on seeking work for young people. This student production contrasts the right way — and the wrong way — to apply for a job in person,...
by Common Ground | Feb 3, 2020 | Parents, Professionals, Students, Teachers, Uncategorized
Students can learn a lot in a classroom, but a good field trip lets them see, feel, and touch the curriculum in ways that make learning come to life. When trips are well planned, relevant, and linked to classroom instruction, students gain a better understanding of...
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