NJ Student Advocacy Union endorses:
Parents’ Rally @ Statehouse in Trenton
Thursday, June 8, 2006, 10 am
”Don’t let Trenton Balance the Budget at the Expense of Students”
Flyer (MS WORD)
Another Flyer (MS WORD)
Flat Fund / Stay Put / Manifest Determination Sample
Letter
Flat Funding urban schools amounts to massive cutbacks that
could lead to school closings, staff layoffs and cuts to vital services. With
increased tuition costs, fuel costs and rising student enrollment, as well as
needs to close the achievement gap, improve performance and correct issues in
special education, the “flat fund” directive from the Corzine Administration is
pulling the rug out from under school districts whose student needs, including
special education needs are underserved. Come to this important rally being
promoted by parent groups, teachers union locals and civil rights groups
throughout NJ.
On January 18 and May 17 of 2006, the NJ Student Advocacy Union led
demonstrations at the NJ Department of Education. We are demanding a better
implementation of changes to special education code in NJ. We have been at
the forefront of a petition drive around these issues and we have actually
impacted and improved the outcome. However, serious problems remain in the
changes to discipline code that will make it easier to suspend and expel
students with disabilities from NJ public schools. As it stands, African
American and Latino students with disabilities are more likely to be
suspended and expelled than other students with disabilities. This racial
disparity will likely be exacerbated given the code changes moving forward.
As we have raised our issues with the state, we have kept front and center our principle from our founding statement: emergency action to eliminate racial disparities in special education in New Jersey.
The special education issues we have focused upon will not be addressed in districts where the educational needs of public school students are totally underserved. Massive cutbacks, mass layoffs and school closings will only serve to widen the special education gap between middle class and poor districts and to increase the racial disparities in special education. For these reasons, The NJ Student Advocacy Union endorses the June 8 rally against education cutbacks.
Meanwhile, we invite you to join us in protecting the rights of children with disabilities by sending letters to the State Board of Education before June 21 calling upon the board to “maintain pre IDEIA 2004 manifest determination protections for NJ students with disabilities to protect our children from inappropriate suspension and expulsion, to maintain ‘stay put’ protection from district unilateral change of placement decisions and to take emergency action to eliminate racial disparities in special education.” Letters can be e-mailed to Lucille.davy@doe.state.nj.us and comments6A14@doe.state.nj.us , faxed to (609) 633-0267 and mailed to State Board Office Riverview Executive Plaza, Building 100, P.O. Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625-0500. Also let them know about your concerns around “flat funding” public education in underserved districts.
NJ Student Advocacy Union,
PO Box 1214, Belle Mead,
NJ 08502 908-881-5275
Advocate@StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
Visit our website to view photo essay
on the May 17 demonstration!
Ask the Advocate
NJ Complaint Form (MS Word)
(PDF)
On Line Public Hearing on IDEIA 2004
Survey on NJ OSEP Complaint
Process
Past Activities
IEP Wkshp
Rec. Programs for
those w/ Disabilities
An Evening of Educational Advocacy
September 8, 2005 Edison, NJ
What The Student Advocate Has Done for Our Children
Lately . . .
NJ IDEIA 2004 Organizing Committee
Minutes of IDEIA 2004 meeting on Thu., May
26
Student Rights Radio
Discussion, October 31
Effort to
Reach Gubernatorial Hopefuls and Acting Governor / Candidates
IDEA: An Update
Dec. 5, 2005
Middletown
January 18,
2006: Hold a Candle Light for Our Children's Rights
50 Strong For Our
Children
No. Jersey Radio Interview Aired, 1/22
Petitioning for Rights Children: Legal in Princeton
Interview on NJ IDEIA Rights
- Racial Disparities in Sp-Ed
Call
is Heard in Montgomery Twp: Inclusive Recreation
NJSAU Minutes 2/18/2006
Playing and Singing for
Our Rights, 4/1/6
Better IDEA Laws for Special Education
Students?
Better IEPs? Anything is Possible!
April
1 Report: Student Advocacy Union - Fundraising Concert
Mobilization for Rights
of Our Children, May 17, 2006, Trenton
Nationwide Internet Radio Rally for Sp-Ed Parent Rights
9pm EST, Sat. May 20
Parents’ Rally @ Statehouse in Trenton Thursday, June 8, 2006
Piscataway Parents Mtg, June 19, 2006