On December 30, 2016, the New Jersey Department of Education proposed new special education regulations that will affect tuition rates and accounting practices at state-approved private schools for students with disabilities. In more than 80 pages of code, the NJDOE has proposed rules that would affect areas such as pension, healthcare, travel, hiring and staff training, tuition-setting, debt, and audits, to name a few.
Among the changes of greatest concerns: a freeze on maximum salaries for staff until 2024, low salary caps for speech therapists, OTs, PTs and BCBA professionals; and low caps on staff training. Advocates from ASAH Private Special Education, The Arc of New Jersey, Autism New Jersey, Advocates for Children of New Jersey, and The New Jersey Coalition for Special Education Funding Reform have asked the state Board to delay action, charging that the changes could cause some schools to close, and will force schools to cut back on staff training and support services.
The state board will accept comments again when the rules are publicized in the New Jersey register, a move that is expected in March. The rules are currently on track for adoption later this spring.
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