by Common Ground | Dec 12, 2016 | Capitols
In a five page letter to governors and state education officials the U.S. Secretary of Education has called on schools to stop using physical punishment to address behavior issues. Calling school-sponsored corporal punishment an “ineffective” and...
by Common Ground | Oct 25, 2016 | Capitols
The United States Department of Education (DOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a “Dear Colleague” letter reminding school districts of their obligations to students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) under Section 504 of the...
by Common Ground | Sep 4, 2016 | Capitols
Legislation to establish a Response to Intervention initiative (RTI) within the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has been signed by Governor Christie. The bipartisan measure (S-496 and A-2566) was co-sponsored by a long list of education leaders and...
by Common Ground | Sep 4, 2016 | Capitols
A bi-partisan measure introduced by leaders in the Senate and Assembly would require the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to train teachers and administrators, and monitor districts on bias and discrimination in special education classification. If passed...
by Common Ground | Sep 4, 2016 | Capitols
In August, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released a “Dear Colleague” letter to school districts indicating concern over data that show students with disabilities are disciplined far more often than their peers without disabilities. The...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Capitols
This summer, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation to allocate resources to help children with disabilities who are at risk of elopement and wandering. S-2614, Kevin and Avonte’s Law, is named in honor nine-year old Kevin Willis and 14-year old Avonte...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Capitols
A bill making its way through the New Jersey Legislature would establish requirements for the use of restraint and seclusion for students with disabilities. This spring, the bill (Senate Bill 1163) cleared the New Jersey Senate and has been referred to the Assembly...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Capitols
As of July 1, 2016, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is accepting requests for mediation and due process through an OSEP email. They will also continue to accept requests for mediation and due process via fax and traditional mail. To file by fax: (609)...
by Common Ground | Apr 15, 2016 | Capitols
Early in 2016, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed legislation that requires the Attorney General to establish a Missing Vulnerable Persons (MVP) Emergency Alert System for missing children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The system...
by Common Ground | Apr 15, 2016 | Capitols
Congress approved a $1.1 trillion plan to boost spending for many government programs including special education and other disability programs. Funding for states under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have increased by $415 million. Feds Boost...
by Common Ground | Apr 15, 2016 | Capitols
A fact sheet produced by a group of New Jersey special education attorneys and advocates outlines a problem affecting students with disabilities who are placed in New Jersey’s state approved private schools for students with disabilities. In June 2015 the New Jersey...
by Common Ground | Feb 18, 2016 | Capitols
Governor Chris Christie has signed a bipartisan measure designed to help protect the rights of students with disabilities. A new Office of the Special Education Ombudsman in the Department of Education will function as a resource to provide confidential information...
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