by Common Ground | Jan 22, 2018 | Capitols
On his final days in office, NJ Governor Chris Christie signed into law a measure that establishes requirements for use of restraint and seclusion on students with disabilities in special education. The bipartisan bill, which was passed unanimously in both houses of...
by Common Ground | Jan 22, 2018 | Parents
By Joanne DeSimone I recently took notice of a headline which read, “Alabama school board member considers institutionalization for special ed students.” Early into the video, school board member Ms. Ella Bell says, “Is it against the law for us to establish perhaps...
by Common Ground | Sep 11, 2017 | Snapshot
Medicaid covers one in five Americans. Medicaid is the nation’s largest health care provider. Medicaid covers 40% of America’s children – over 30 million children. Medicaid covers half of all births in America. One in five Medicaid dollars is spent on children. 2/3 of...
by Common Ground | Sep 11, 2017 | Capitols
Governor Christie has signed a measure (S1474) that requires teacher preparation programs to include instruction or clinical experience in special education, and for students with disabilities endorsement to include credit hours in autism spectrum disorders. The bill...
by Common Ground | Sep 11, 2017 | Capitols
In June, the State Board of Education voted to adopt a resolution supporting new state guidelines to assist schools in teaching social and emotional skills. Social and emotional learning (SEL) refers to the process by which children and adults acquire and effectively...
by Common Ground | Sep 11, 2017 | Capitols
The Office of Special Education Programs, OSEP, issued a response last year to a letter seeking clarification on a school district’s options when a parent brings an attorney to an IEP meeting without giving the district prior notice. The letter addressed two...
by Common Ground | Sep 11, 2017 | Letters, Professionals, Teachers
An argument for providing every student with a social-emotional and academic liaison. By Maurice J. Elias Imagine what might happen if every child entering a school were assigned a social-emotional and academic development (SEAD) liaison who would advocate for the...
by Common Ground | Sep 11, 2017 | Teachers
By John Haney Even when teachers are utilizing effective, differentiated instruction, there are times when a student may require extra support because they are experiencing difficulty in school. Some students will require more individualization of instruction or...
by Common Ground | Sep 11, 2017 | Features
Medicaid is a successful government-operated, single-payer health program established in 1965 as part of Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society.” The nation’s largest single source of health insurance, Medicaid covers one out of five Americans with very low income- more than...
by Common Ground | Aug 3, 2017 | Parents
Here are ten tips to help you get off to a good start at the beginning of the new school year. Help Your Child Deal with Transitions. Is your child making the transition from preschool to kindergarten, from elementary to middle school, or from middle school to high...
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