by Common Ground | Aug 24, 2023 | August 2023, Courts
A New York school district has settled a lawsuit that claimed school staff failed to provide a student with autism their proper resources and care. The case went to trial and settled for $1.55M. The plaintiff’s family sued the North Syracuse Central School...
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...
by Common Ground | Apr 20, 2023 | April 2023, Courts, Parents, Professionals, Teachers
The U.S. Supreme Court in March ruled unanimously that a deaf student may pursue his lawsuit for monetary damages against a Michigan school district that allegedly failed for years to provide him with adequate sign language assistance. The court held that a procedural...
by Common Ground | Apr 20, 2023 | April 2023, Capitols, Parents, Professionals, Teachers
The Governor’s 2023-24 proposed Budget includes $420 million of extraordinary special education aid to reimburse districts for special education “extraordinary” costs. This represents a 5% increase from the $400 million in fiscal year 2021. Over the most recent...
by Common Ground | Jul 20, 2022 | Features
Less than 50 years ago, students in the United States with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, and other conditions were routinely turned away from school because of their disabilities. Today, they are entitled to a free and appropriate public education....
by Common Ground | Mar 17, 2022 | Capitols
A bill now on the governor’s desk would give families extra time to apply for compensatory special education services if their child with disabilities experienced learning losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current statute of limitations to file for full...
by Common Ground | Feb 13, 2022 | Capitols
Tracking Discipline and Reporting – S-1020 was signed, requiring New Jersey school districts to collect and report data on suspension and other disciplinary actions. Each district must now collect and report school-level demographic breakdown of students who...
by Common Ground | Feb 12, 2022 | Features
Auditory processing is a neurological communication between the ears and the brain that is responsible for helping us make sense of what we hear. In auditory processing, the brain must identify the incoming sounds and make an analysis of those sounds and attach...
by Common Ground | Oct 4, 2021 | Better IEPs
By Hillary D. Freeman, Esq. Children with emotional disabilities and related behavioral disorders are often overlooked for appropriate special education and related services. Instead, they are being categorized as “behavioral problems” in their classrooms....
by Common Ground | Oct 4, 2021 | Capitols
Effective September 8, 2021, the New Jersey Department of Education rescinded the COVID-19 pandemic-related emergency rule allowing special education services to be provided virtually. However, school districts may continue to provide virtual-related services to...
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