From the Courts – High Court Sides Unanimously for Student with Disability Regarding Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
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...
From the Capitol – Governor Proposes Continued Increases to Funding for Extraordinary Costs
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...
From the Capitol – New Grants to Improve Transition For Students With Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration has announced $224 million in grants for innovative demonstration projects “focused on the creation of systemic approaches to improve access to pre-employment transition services for children...
Learning Loss: 2022 ‘Nation’s Report Card’ Results
What they say – and don’t say — about students with disabilities The pandemic’s effect on student learning and achievement continues to be a big concern for parents, educators, and policy-makers. Last fall, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests,...
Pandemic Learning Effects: Reasons to be Hopeful?
And the Need for High Focus on Recovery for Students with Disabilities While highly publicized reports underscore the negative effects of COVID-19 on student learning, it is important to focus on recovery, and systemic responses to address that learning loss. New...
COVID Aid to Schools: What is NOT Happening in NJ
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has provided three rounds of unprecedented direct federal funding to states to support the response of local school districts and to address the educational needs of students. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency...
Q&A: Students Aging Out of Special Education Can Access Another Year of Services : S-3434
Back by request, Common Ground is re-printing this important story last run in 2021. New Jersey law, P.L.2021, c.109 (sometimes referred to by its Senate bill number, S-3434) requires boards of education to provide special education and related services to certain...
School Leader’s Perspective: Mental Health Takes a Front Row Seat in the Classroom
By Dr. Anthony Hadzimichalis, Ed.D. Mental health issues have taken a front row seat in the classroom. Following pandemic-related interruptions, students of all ages and backgrounds are experiencing higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress, phobias, and grief....
Better IEPs: Three Types of School Supports to Help Students with Mental Health Conditions
By Cari Carlson, Esq., MSW School can be a challenge for students with mental health conditions. Some students struggle to concentrate, sit still or follow directions. Others might have difficulty learning due to depression, anxiety, mood swings, psychosis or behavior...
School-Based Mental Health
Even before COVID-19, the National Institute of Mental Health estimated that one in five people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, and one in four Americans currently knows someone who has a mental health condition. There is a ripple...
Comprehensive School-based Mental Health Systems: Why Are They Important?
1. Learning is an intrinsically social and interactive process, and social, emotional and behavioral competence is essential for all kinds of learning. Students are most successful academically when they can manage their behavior and emotions. Positive mental health...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