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Petition on IDEIA 2004 Implementation :
We Stand in Agreement to Maintain Strong NJ Special Education Law

We the undersigned, residents of NJ, parents, students, professionals and other supporters of students with disabilities call upon the NJ Department of Education, the Acting Governor of NJ and the Legislative Assembly and Senate  to continue to maintain and further strengthen NJ public special education law.

In response to the US passage of IDEA revisions in December, 2004, we believe that it is critical to the integrity of the commitment to all students with special needs, that the State of New Jersey fulfill the needs of students above those of lobbyists.   While the federal legislation allows a weakening of educational law on a state by state basis, we call upon NJ to at the very least hold the line to pre December 2004 revisions, and if changes are to be made, to elevate New Jersey's education of all students by strengthening the rights of students with special needs and their families.  Specifically, we stand in agreement around the following points of unity:

1. We are opposed to the removal of short-term objectives or benchmarks in IEPs.  Short term objectives and annual goals provide the action plan toward achieving any improvement and are the cornerstone of accountability needed to see if an educational program is meeting the elements of long term goals.
2. We oppose the possible election by NJ to become a pilot state for multi-year IEP review periods.  Regular self evaluation is integral toward greater success; lengthening the review period can lead to stagnation and apathy.
3. We are opposed to the weakening of the rules governing who must attend an IEP meeting and to the allowance of participation through written documents, phone conferences or telecommunication.  The current multi-discipline decision process is critical to a global perspective of a student’s strengths and areas that need further development.  Face to face interactions are integral to high quality, open teamwork meetings that are in the best interest of the student’s progress.
4. We support mid-year progress reports that reference the extent to which a goal has been met and extent to which progress is sufficient to meet the goal by the end of the year.  Such reporting is an opportunity to be responsive to changing needs as well as being another measure of accountability that is essential toward the appropriate education of our children.
5. In disciplinary matters regarding students with disabilities, we are opposed to the weakening of the manifestation determination language and call upon NJ to keep the current standards regarding when a behavior is a manifestation of the student's disability.  Families are already the powerless partners in such disputes, up against challenges from school districts with far greater resources.
6. The stay-put provisions in matters of dispute concerning placement in interim alternative educational settings must be maintained.  The stay-put provision gives parents recourse to prevent district unilateralism.
7. We are opposed to the lengthening of the time for which a student with disabilities can be removed to an interim alternative educational setting from 45 days to 45 school days (from 6 weeks to 9 weeks).  Students with disabilities need to be protected from unreasonably long disruption to their free, least restrictive and appropriate public education.
8. We are opposed to any reduction in the frequency of notification of parents of their rights and safeguards.  Regulations are ever changing and parents need to have an up to date point of reference whenever new educational plan negotiations are occurring.
9. We oppose the implementation of a statute of limitations on the rights of parents to hold a district legally accountable.  The effects of the actions of school districts with regard to children with disabilities last a lifetime.  Limits on accountability could encourage disregard for the best interests of our children.
10. We oppose the imposition of a state run resolution meeting once parents resort to due process proceedings.  Offering such resolution assistance on a volunteer basis could be beneficial but forcing parents into that practice could deter parents from advocating in the best interests of their disabled children.   If such sessions are to be offered or are made mandatory, the state must assure that they are meaningful by having them facilitated by a trained, independent and impartial facilitator.
11. We oppose increasing the age of transition to 16 as many students with disabilities require several years to achieve the independent life and occupational skills needed once they move beyond the public education system.

Come back soon to see updated list!

Writing A Letter to Support Strongest Possible Implementation of IDEIA 2004 in NJ
FOLLOW UP FOR SIGNATORIES OF IDEIA 2004 PETITION

To sign
The following organizations have endorsed this petition statement:

A Parents Initiative for Every Childs' Education (APIECE) http://APIECENJ.org
Haddonfield Committee for Children with Special Learning Needs
Recognizing Issues in Special Education (RISE) Allentown, NJ
Special Education Alliance http://nj-sped-advocate.com
Special Parents of Teaneck (SPOT)

Individual signers: 1321 public (NJ), 118 private and 24 out of state signers so far!
Additionally, about 500 signatures on sheets collected but not yet typed - a total of 2000 signers.
(Petition signer list is updated daily and manually so you will not see your name appear immediately.  Check back later!)

Signers, Residents of Other States