COVID and Transition to Adulthood
by Jessica Keogh, MEd The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be challenging for all, but for people with disabilities the struggles have been more intense. As an adult living and working with a physical disability, I can attest to the challenges posed by COVID. Because...From the Capitol: Study Details Disparities in Covid Learning Loss
A new study released by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights show that interruptions in school-based learning caused by COVID 19 has deepened the impact of disparities in access and opportunity facing many students of color in public schools, including...From the Capitol: What Special Education Parents Need to Know About S-3434
Does your child with disabilities turn 21 on or before June 30, 2021? Did they miss out on vital transition services due to the pandemic? Are they scheduled to graduate because they are “aging out”? Not so fast… There is a new law on its way. S-3434 is on track to go...From the Capitol: Help for Students Who Are “Aging Out”
A bill moving through the New Jersey legislature would require boards of education to provide special education, transition services, and related services to certain students exceeding the age of eligibility for special education and related services. The bill would...Reopening Schools: Moving Targets
In our last edition of Common Ground, we introduced issues impacting special educators and parents as schools and policymakers crafted early responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. While New Jersey’s broad response to the health crisis has, on the whole, been clear...Managing Children’s Challenging Behaviors in the Midst of Coronavirus (COVID-19): Help for Parents
By: Rory Panter, Psy.D. and Rebecca Schulman, Psy.D., BCBA-D Behavior Therapy Associates | Somerset, New Jersey The last several weeks have resulted in significant changes for families, as parents and children are now spending most of their time together in the home....From the Capitol: Parental Waivers for the Delivery of Remote or Virtual Special Education and Related Services During COVID-19
On April 30, 2020, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) issued a memo to New Jersey Directors of Special Education responding to instances in which school districts sought to require parents or guardians to waive certain legal rights or give written consent...From the Capitol: US Secretary of Education Declines to Waive Bulk of IDEA Requirements
The $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed in March charged US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to consider waiving key special education rules as school districts struggle to teach students online. The Secretary was required to report back to Congress by late...From the Capitol: NJ Governor Phil Murphy Signs A-3904 Allowing Virtual or Remote Instruction to Meet 180-day School Year Requirement
Governor Murphy signed A.3904 (now P.L. 2020, Chapter 27), authorizing school districts and APSSDs to educate students remotely in emergency situations that require school facilities to be closed for more than three days. A day of remote instruction will be considered...NJCommonGround.org, and the Common Ground E-newsletter are projects of the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities
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- The Right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education
- What to Do if You Suspect Your Child has a Disability Impacting Their Education
- Initial Special Education Evaluations and Eligibility
- The Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Special Education Placement
- Q&A: What are Extended School Year (ESY) Services?
- Q&A: Dispute Resolution