by Common Ground | Jun 27, 2013 | Capitols
A bi-partisan measure approved by the New Jersey General Assembly would ban a growing practice that has school boards offering “merit pay” bonuses to school superintendents who reduce out of district special education placements. The bill, A-3997, was...
by Common Ground | Jun 26, 2013 | Capitols
Bipartisan legislation to establish a task force to improve the funding, delivery, and effectiveness of special education programs and services in New Jersey was signed into law earlier this spring by Governor Christie. The legislation was introduced in response to an...
by Common Ground | Jun 26, 2013 | Capitols
Following months of opposition on the part of special education advocacy groups, the State Board of Education voted to withdraw plans to revise sections of the state’s special education code. Last fall, the New Jersey Department of Education proposed major...
by Common Ground | Jun 26, 2013 | Capitols
Governor Chris Christie signed a bill into law that is designed to provide stability in Special Education programming. The measure (A-2739 /S-1949) stemmed from parental concerns that students with disabilities were subject to continued transfer of schools and...
by Common Ground | Jun 25, 2013 | Students
By Jordan Westwood Self-advocacy skills are important no matter what setting you are in, whether it is in middle school, high school, college, or the work place. I started advocating for myself when I was in fifth grade. I asked my grandmother if I could come with her...
by Common Ground | Jun 25, 2013 | Teachers
Strategy instruction gives students the tools and techniques they need in order to understand and learn new material or skills.If you’ve ever played chess, chances are you used a fairly unsophisticated approach when first making your way around the board. It’s also...
by Common Ground | Jun 25, 2013 | Snapshot
In 2011, nearly 16,000 New Jersey children were enrolled in Head Start Programs, up 7% since 2007. Of the 91,832 New Jersey children enrolled in kindergarten, 74% attend full day programs. The number of children enrolled in full day kindergarten (67,627) rose by 9%...
by Common Ground | Feb 28, 2013 | Features
Disability Mandates Include School-Based Mental Health Services By Alvin E. Doyle As a nation, we strive to create educational environments in which students feel safe and can learn, and in which educators have the tools and strategies they need to educate all...
by Common Ground | Feb 28, 2013 | Capitols
The Obama administration has issued a groundbreaking directive requiring school districts to provide equal extracurricular athletic opportunities for students with disabilities, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. In a letter to schools in late...
by Common Ground | Feb 28, 2013 | Capitols
In January, advocates urged the New Jersey State Board of Education (SBOE) to change recently adopted procedures for public input. The effort comes as the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is proposing regulatory changes in many areas, including special...
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