by Common Ground | Nov 23, 2024 | Capitols, Current-Issue
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued four fact sheets on the disability-related rights of students with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. Each fact sheet describes the condition, explains how the condition may affect a student at...
by Common Ground | Nov 23, 2024 | Capitols, Current-Issue
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report showing Black girls had the highest rates of exclusionary discipline in schools and were the most disproportionately disciplined group among girls, according to an analysis of civil rights data. Although...
by Common Ground | Sep 27, 2024 | Capitols, Parents, Professionals, Teachers
While restraint continues to occur in New Jersey schools, the state has made progress in addressing the issue of seclusion and restraint. In 2020, the state enacted a law requiring the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to collect data on incidents of...
by Common Ground | Sep 27, 2024 | Capitols
Q: What is KASSA? KASSA, Keeping All Students Safe Act, is a proposed federal bill designed to restrict the use of these controversial seclusion and restraint practices in educational settings. First introduced in 2010, the bill and its subsequent iterations have...
by Common Ground | Jun 12, 2024 | Capitols
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
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 | 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 | Capitols
A new report from The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, shows that New Jersey is among nine states still require high school exit exams as a graduation requirement for their students. In February 2024, lawmakers in Trenton introduced measures to do away with...
by Common Ground | Apr 4, 2024 | Capitols
In a rare “turn around,” the NJDOE has rescinded a controversial proposal to cut funding to state approved specialized schools serving students with complex disabilities. In January, NJDOE proposed more than 200 changes to NJAC 6A:23A, Subchapter 18, which...
by Common Ground | Feb 22, 2024 | Capitols
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education say 55% of preschoolers with disabilities receive special education services in classrooms separate from their peers. In a joint policy statement, they called for more young children with...
by Common Ground | Feb 22, 2024 | Capitols
In January, Governor Murphy signed legislation, P.L. 2023, c. 212 (A1174/S2057) concerning emergency planning for students with disabilities in school settings. The bill clarifies the ways in which students with disabilities—specifically, those with an IEP, 504 Plan,...
by Common Ground | Feb 22, 2024 | Capitols
With new guidance, the U.S. Department of Education is pushing schools to ensure that all students with disabilities have the assistive technology they need and the supports to use it effectively. The agency issued a “Dear Colleague” letter and a 24-page...
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