by Common Ground | Feb 22, 2024 | Capitols, February 2024
Kevin Dehmer was sworn in in mid-February to serve as the next Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE), succeeding Acting Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan. Dehmer spent more than 15 years at the New Jersey Department of Education, during...
by Common Ground | Nov 29, 2023 | November 2023, Parents, Professionals, Teachers
What Parents and Educators Need to Know About Reading Assessment Assessing students for reading disabilities is a crucial step in ensuring they receive appropriate support and intervention. Early and accurate assessment can provide valuable insights into a student’s...
by Common Ground | Nov 29, 2023 | November 2023, Parents, Professionals, Q&A, Teachers
Q: What is Decoding? A: Reading decoding is a fundamental skill in the process of reading. It refers to the ability to translate written words into spoken language. When readers decode, they use their knowledge of letter-sound relationships to recognize and pronounce...
by Common Ground | Nov 29, 2023 | Better IEPs, November 2023, Parents, Professionals, Teachers
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) drive services and supports for students with reading disabilities. Students must learn to decode words, recognize vocabulary, and understand what they have read. Before setting IEP goals, it is vital to assess the student in...
by Common Ground | Nov 28, 2023 | November 2023, Snapshot
According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), one in five students (11.2M) in the US have learning and attention issues. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, students with learning disabilities are three times more likely to...
by Common Ground | Nov 28, 2023 | Courts, November 2023
The mother of a Texas teen with intellectual and emotional disabilities has lost a federal lawsuit she filed following the tasing of her son. The suit charged that the school district and school resource officer (SRO) violated the teen’s civil rights under the...
by Common Ground | Nov 28, 2023 | Capitols, November 2023
In early fall, the NJDOE released an updated version of The Autism Program Quality Indicators-Revised (APQI-R). The 116-page guidance document is meant to serve as a resource for educators in developing, implementing, and evaluating quality programming for all...
by Common Ground | Aug 24, 2023 | August 2023, Features, Parents
Parent advocacy happens in many ways, from chatting with a teacher about a child’s needs and progress, to getting involved in systems change. In many states, Special Education Advisory Groups (SEPAGs) are working to ensure that the unique needs of students with...
by Common Ground | Aug 24, 2023 | August 2023, Parents, Q&A, Special Ed Basics
By Jason Krasnow Q: What role do parents have in the referral process? A: A parent’s role in special education starts with the referral process. School personnel, state agencies, or parents themselves can refer a child for evaluation if they suspect that the...
by Common Ground | Aug 24, 2023 | August 2023, Special Ed Basics
By James F. Gallagher, Esq., and S. Paul Prior, Esq. Disagreements and disputes in special education are inevitable. In fact, mechanisms to resolve disagreements and disputes are part of state and federal special education law. Most of the time these disputes and...
.