by Common Ground | Feb 18, 2016 | Capitols
Responding to communications from parent, advocacy groups, and national disability organizations, The US Department of Education (USDOE) has issued a “Dear Colleague” letter on the unique educational needs of children with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and...
by Common Ground | Feb 18, 2016 | Capitols
Lawmakers in Washington have approved a $1.1 trillion plan that offers a boost in spending for federal government programs that affect children and adults with disabilities. Funding to states under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will increase...
by Common Ground | Feb 18, 2016 | Capitols
The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have issued guidance to states, school districts, and early childhood providers urging them to take action to include more children with disabilities into inclusive high-quality early childhood programs....
by Common Ground | Feb 18, 2016 | Capitols
The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has found that 19 states, including New Jersey, met federal requirements under IDEA in the 2013-2014 school year. All other states were found to “need assistance” or “need intervention.” The Individuals with Disabilities...
by Common Ground | Oct 6, 2015 | Capitols
The U.S. Department of Education has issued a “Dear Colleague” letter reminding schools that speech services for students on the autism spectrum should not be overlooked. In the letter to states, officials report that an increasing number of students with autism...
by Common Ground | Oct 6, 2015 | Capitols
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) notified local school districts that the level of state aid for “extraordinary costs” related to special education would be reduced once again. “Extraordinary costs” aid for special education was...
by Common Ground | Oct 6, 2015 | Capitols
The NJ Assembly Education Committee advanced a bill designed to help protect the rights of students with disabilities. The measure (A-1103) would establish an Office of the Special Education Ombudsman in the Department of Education. The office would function as a...
by Common Ground | Oct 6, 2015 | Capitols
The U.S. Department of Education has announced that states will no longer be allowed to administer tests to students with disabilities that are based on modified academic achievement standards. Previously, states were allowed to count up to 2 percent of all students...
by Common Ground | May 14, 2015 | Capitols
U.S. Sens. Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced the Supportive School Climate Act of 2015, legislation that would address the so-called school-to-prison pipeline by reducing suspensions, expulsions, and other overly harsh school disciplinary...
by Common Ground | May 14, 2015 | Capitols
Federal education officials are fielding an increasing number of complaints related to disability discrimination in the nation’s schools. More than 3,900 complaints based on disability were filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights during...
by Common Ground | May 14, 2015 | Capitols
NJ Senator Diane Allen (R-7) introduced a bill (S-1760) that would recognize American Sign Language as a world language and require high schools to let students fulfill their foreign language graduation requirement by taking sign language courses, instead of spoken...
by Common Ground | May 14, 2015 | Capitols
Assembly Bill A3224, requiring additional professional development requirements on suicide prevention, awareness, and response for public district personnel, has unanimously cleared the Assembly Education Committee, and at press time was awaiting an Assembly vote. The...
.