The New Jersey Student Advocate
A publication of A Parents’ Initiative
for Every Child’s Education (APIECE)
Fall 2005, “The First Issue” Volume 1, Issue Number 1
“Standing up for the rights
of all students including those facing adversity due to disability, racial
disparity and economic inequity”
Visit today: http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org http://APIECENJ.org / 908-881-5275 /
908-874-5094 Advocate@StudentAdvocate-NJ.org / APIECE, PO Box 1214, Belle Mead,
NJ 08502
Paid for by members and supporters of and donators to A Parents’ Initiative for
Every Child’s Education
Back to Index
Promote
About the IDEIA 2004 Petition Drive
The following sample letter to the
opinion pages briefly describes the issues addressed by the IDEIA 2004 petition
drive. We have already garnered over 1000 signatures but we are capable of much
greater success were more parents and supporters to become actively involved in
petitioning on behalf of the rights of our children. The petition drive is not
only a method of pressuring the DOE and showing unity of parents, it is a way
for us to organize and provides an opening for us to talk to other parents,
relatives, co-workers, etc. about this important effort. You can copy the
petition from the front page of this paper or go to http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
. You can also go there and follow links to many resources, not only of our own
organization but of SPAN, The ARC of NJ, the NJDDC and many other sources of
information about what is at stake and what we can do on behalf of the rights of
our children. We can make a difference if we organize and converge our diverse
constituencies around this common purpose. Feel free to borrow from the
following letter, shorten it or rework it to send it to your local papers.
Sample Opinion: Special Education
Families Unite!
It is time for special education families, relatives, friends, advocates and
other supporters to organize and converge to protect our rights which are being
whittled away. IDEIA 2004 is the federal revision to special education law that
allows states to weaken rights of - and support for - special education students
and parents. States with stronger law in areas where the federal law allows
weakening can opt to keep the laws stronger. The good news is that special
education families and allies across NJ are joining together to call upon the
Department of Education, Acting Governor Codey and state legislators to stand
with our children by foregoing the most offensive changes.
Part of the effort is being coordinated from The Student Advocate Website,
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
where a petition drive has already garnered support from over 600 NJ residents.
The petition calls upon NJ to hold the line on 11 points that are important to
special education students and their families. The following are issues
addressed by the petition:
1. Elimination of short term objectives.
2. The changing of an IEP period from 1 year to 3 years.
3. Regular education teachers would no longer need to attend IEP meetings.
4. Midterm assessments of progress toward objectives can be eliminated.
5. Stay put provisions prohibiting unilateral district placement change while an
issue is in dispute can be eliminated.
6. Manifest determination rules can be weakened making it easier to suspend or
expel a child with a behavioral disability.
7. Increasing the time for which a child can be removed to an "alternative
learning environment."
8. Decreasing the frequency parents must be notified of their rights.
9. Imposing a statute of limitations for holding a district legally accountable.
10. Imposing a state run resolution meeting on due process procedures.
11. Increasing the age for transition service from 14 to 16.
If you are concerned about these issues, visit , http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
to sign the petition and learn of other efforts around the issue. You can get
more info by calling 908-881-5275. The website provides tips on letter writing
and other actions you can take. While the petition has been launched by A
Parents Initiative for Every Childs'' Education, it is being supported by
organizations and individuals throughout NJ. There are between 300 and 400
thousand parents of such children. Add in our relatives, advocates and other
supporters and we could represent a million voters. Imagine if we converge our
efforts and resources. We can prevent the weakening of these laws that are so
vital to the survival and realization of the full potential of our children! Bob
Witanek
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