by Common Ground | Sep 27, 2024 | Courts, September 2024
The New Jersey State Supreme Court has ruled that students with disabilities are entitled to a free public education even after they earn a General Education Development (GED). The case involves a teen with disabilities who was denied a request to re-enroll in a...
by Common Ground | Sep 27, 2024 | September 2024, Snapshot
In the context of special education, “seclusion rooms” may be referred to by various euphemisms that can sometimes obscure their purpose. These terms can vary in meaning and intent, and their use may depend on the specific practices of a school or...
by Common Ground | Jun 12, 2024 | Features, June 2024
School buses are more than just vehicles to transport students; they are extensions of the educational environment where students spend a considerable amount of time. For students with disabilities, especially those with a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education...
by Common Ground | Jun 12, 2024 | Better IEPs, June 2024
Transportation is a related service as defined by 34 CFR §300.34(c)(16) of the IDEA regulations. It can include travel to and from school and between schools; travel in and around school buildings; and specialized equipment such as specially modified vans, buses,...
by Common Ground | Jun 12, 2024 | Courts, June 2024
The courts have said a local school district is responsible and accountable for a safe ride. In 2002, a landmark Pennsylvania case (Susavage v. Bucks County Schools, Intermediate Unit No. 22, et al.) defined the responsibility of school districts and Individualized...
by Common Ground | Jun 12, 2024 | Capitols, June 2024
The New Jersey Legislature passed, and New Jersey Governor Murphy signed into law, a bill modifying New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act, known as OPRA. OPRA guarantees the public’s right to some government records. The changes further restrict the...
by Common Ground | Jun 12, 2024 | Capitols, June 2024
A U.S. District Court judge has approved a settlement in a class action lawsuit between the New Jersey Department of Education and 5,000 families of New Jersey students receiving special education services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states...
by Common Ground | Apr 5, 2024 | April 2024, Features
By David B. Rubin and Ellen S. Bass As a school board member, you know your job is not to run the schools but to see that they are well run. To do so, you perform critical oversight functions like selecting the superintendent, formulating district policies, and...
by Common Ground | Apr 5, 2024 | April 2024, Capitols
This spring, the New Jersey Senate Education Committee advanced legislation to establish new State requirements on how to determine whether a student has a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) under IDEA. The bill, S-1812, prohibits the use of a ‘severe...
by Common Ground | Apr 5, 2024 | April 2024, Better IEPs, Features, Parents, Teachers
By Maria Torres, M.A., LDT-C Reading disabilities, such as dyslexia, pose significant challenges for students. They not only affect a student’s academic progress, but frequently also impact their behavior in the classroom. Understanding the relationship between...
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