MINUTES, 2/18/2006, MARY JACOBS LIBRARY, NJ STUDENT ADVOCACY UNION
On February 18, 8
parents and supporters and one student attended the founding meeting of the NJ
Student Advocacy Union. The following are the minutes.
I. Introductions
II. Organizing – A discussion was held about the
tools of organizing (phone, leafleting, internet, speaking), job of, goal
reaching daily tasks, taking ownership of the advocacy union and our agreed upon
tasks.
III. Revision to rally plans at DOE –
Given the cancellation of the March 15 State Board testimony session and the
addition of such a session on May 17, the NJ Student Advocacy Union is adjusting
its plans and now calls for a rally before the testimony session which will
occur on May 17.
IV. Overview of other action plans
A. We agreed to float the idea to other organizations to call for a week or a month of local school board meetings where we would promote a special education advocacy presence throughout the state of NJ.
B. The need for our members to get letters out to Gov. Corzine calling upon him to accept petition from parent delegation was reiterated. See:
http://www.studentadvocate-nj.org/Corzine_Accept_Petition_Letter.htm
C. The need to continue to press the NJ Board of Education for more inclusive, collaborative and democratic testimony process effort was reiterated. See:
http://www.studentadvocate-nj.org/call_for_inclusiveBOEHearings.htm
D. The idea of a benefit recital on April 1 was discussed. The recital would present performers with disabilities and would raise funds for NJSAU.
E. Newspaper publication / distribution. The idea of soliciting ads in the newspaper to pay for its publication was discussed.
F. The idea of organizing local meetings with an introduction about the NJ Student Advocacy Union and the need for greater involvement of parents in the IDEIA 2004 advocacy effort possibly followed by an IEP workshop was discussed. Such meetings could be utilized to generate additional media attention to the IDEIA 2004 challenges.
Toward the end of the meeting, a question about the name of the organization was raised. However, 40 people have signed on to the statement around the name NJ Student Advocacy Union and no decision was made to change the name.
If you attended the meeting and want to offer any clarifications about what was discussed, please advise.
If you have suggestions about where we should go from here or any comments about these minutes, please advise.
Send any such comments to Advocate@StudentAdvocate-NJ.org .
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
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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