by Common Ground | Jul 26, 2017 | Capitols
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bipartisan budget bill, following a 4-day government shut down that brought public services to a standstill. The $34.7 billion spending plan adds $150 million for schools and shifts $31 million from ‘overfunded’...
by Common Ground | Jul 26, 2017 | Capitols
Less than half of states in the country are meeting their obligations to appropriately serve students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In its annual review, the U.S. Department of Education found that only 22 states – New...
by Common Ground | Jul 26, 2017 | Capitols
In early July, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law a measure that will require the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to maintain an electronic database of legal decisions concerning special education in New Jersey. Under the new law, NJDOE must...
by Common Ground | Jul 26, 2017 | Courts
Earlier this year, the Justice Department reached a settlement with a south Jersey school district under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agreement resolves allegations that the district violated the ADA by refusing to allow a student with...
by Common Ground | Jul 26, 2017 | Students
By Jordyn Zimmerman “They told me I’d never go to college but I just finished my freshman year — what about all the other students with autism?” A few years ago, I was on track to receive a modified high school diploma. I was spoken to using basic English with minimal...
by Common Ground | Jul 26, 2017 | Features
By Amy Golden, M.S., BCBA Research confirms that becoming as independent as possible often substantially impacts future success in all aspects of life, so as a student moves through adolescence, it is essential for the educational team and the family to place...
by Common Ground | Jun 5, 2017 | Capitols
Federal funding for services to the nation’s 6 million students who receive special education saw a modest boost under a bipartisan agreement approved by Congress in late April. The agreement was rushed in order to avert a government shutdown. Grants to states under...
by Common Ground | Jun 5, 2017 | Capitols
In early May, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve deep cuts to Medicaid when they passed the American Health Care Act. The measure is intended to ‘repeal and replace’ The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”)....
by Common Ground | Jun 5, 2017 | Parents
Sometimes, learning happens OUTSIDE of school. In this special edition of Parents’ Perspective, we offer advice on learning to go to the dentist: By Dr. Christina R. Carter The thought of seeing a dentist can be overwhelming for both parents and patients, but it does...
by Common Ground | Jun 5, 2017 | Q&A
The NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is presently piloting a new program of IEP Facilitation. The initiative is in four districts in NJ-Hamilton, Elizabeth, Cherry Hill, and Plainsboro, and will be launched statewide in...
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