by Common Ground | Mar 26, 2026 | March 2026, Q&A
Q: What is the most important decision made during an IEP meeting? A: The student’s placement. Placement determines where a student will receive services and spend their school day. It must never be based on what is easiest for adults or what programs already exist....
by Common Ground | Feb 4, 2026 | Features, February 2026
Special education helps millions of students with disabilities learn, grow, and succeed in school. For these students, services like speech therapy, classroom supports, and individualized instruction are not extras—they are what make learning possible. Federal law...
by Common Ground | Feb 4, 2026 | February 2026, Q&A
Q: What services should the school pay for? A: Schools must pay for services listed in your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). This can include special instruction, speech or occupational therapy, transportation, classroom supports, and assistive...
by Common Ground | Feb 13, 2025 | Courts, February 2025
Paraprofessionals are vital members of many special education teams, providing direct support to students with disabilities. These educational aides assist with a variety of tasks, including helping students complete assignments, supporting behavior management, and...
by Common Ground | Jan 17, 2025 | Features, January 2025 Special Policy Edition
The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) monitors states for compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in several key areas. These areas help ensure that students with disabilities receive the services and supports they need for a quality...
by Common Ground | Apr 5, 2024 | April 2024, Features
By David B. Rubin and Ellen S. Bass As a school board member, you know your job is not to run the schools but to see that they are well run. To do so, you perform critical oversight functions like selecting the superintendent, formulating district policies, and...
by Common Ground | Apr 5, 2024 | April 2024, Courts
A U.S. District Court has upheld the ruling of a New Jersey Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) that transportation to and from the corner bus stop, rather than to and from the child’s front door, did not result in denial of a free appropriate public education and did not...
by Common Ground | Feb 22, 2024 | Capitols, February 2024
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...
by Common Ground | Aug 24, 2023 | August 2023, Courts
The State of Pennsylvania is depriving students with disabilities of a year of instruction as young adults, according to a lawsuit filed this spring. Federal law entitles students with disabilities the right to FAPE until they earn a regular high school diploma or...
by Common Ground | Apr 22, 2023 | April 2023, Parents, Professionals, Special Ed Basics, Teachers
Common Ground is committed to informing families and guardians about parental rights and special education advocacy. In this and upcoming editions we will share a series of basic and important special education topics on the rights, responsibilities, administrative...
.