| Author |
Message |
    
jennie
Citizen
Username: Jennie
Post Number: 11
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 10:35 pm: |     |
There's a list of state approved private schools on the NJ Dept of Education website
http://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/education/specialed/instate1.pl?string=schoolcode&maxh its=1000 |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 246
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 10:26 am: | |
great! thx Pete |
Maxsdad
Citizen
Username: Maxsdad
Post Number: 34
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 4:07 pm: | |
The organization that all special ed private schools belong to is the Association of Schools & Agencies for the Handicapped - New Jersey. Their parent's assistance line is (877)287-2724 and website is www.asah.org. They have listings of all the private schools. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 248
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 9:58 am: | |
thx Maxsdad -- I have a question -- the first list (at the state link) that jennie posted has many more schools than the asah.org. for instance the Milton school in Millburn and the Shepard school in Morristown are not on the asah.org list.
so there are schools that are state approved by not asah? how would that matter to me as a parent and for my child?
thanks Pete
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Maxsdad
Citizen
Username: Maxsdad
Post Number: 35
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 3:58 pm: | |
Pete, I'm not sure. My guess is that some schools approved by the state choose not to join asah. I would give asah a call and ask them. My advice to choosing a private school is to visit many, ask lots of questions, and try to speak to a family familiar with the school. I remember when we were going through this process (many years ago), the school that the most people recommended nearby, we just didn't feel our son would do well there. Another, much farther away, seemed like the perfect fit (even though no one from the school district recommended it). We followed our instincts and chose the one farther away. He's now been there 10 years and doing well. We also learned that the child study teams know very little about the private school options. They actually sent us to visit a school in the heart of Paterson. After meeting with the principal (a woman we will never forget), she gave us the name of the school my son is attending and the name of an attorney. Fortunately we never had to use the attorney. Best of luck. |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 42
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 11:08 am: | |
The Special Ed PTA will be meeting this Thursday, Oct. 23, from 7:00-9:00 in the auditorium of the Board of Ed building, 525 Academy St., Maplewood.
The flier reads:
"The Special Education PTA of Maplewood & South Orange welcomes parents, teachers and administrators to an evening of: Popcorn and a Movie.
"The movie (a video tape) is FAT City Workshop (Frustration, Anxiety, Tension) created by Richard Lavoie, a nationally known expert on learning disabilities. This extraordinary film actually gives the viewer the experience of being a learning disabled child in a classroom. It is filled with wisdom, humor and is a must-see for anyone who lives with or works with a child with special needs.
"The video is 70 minutes long, so we plan to start the evening with a meet and greet session with our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Peter Horoschak together with our Director of Special Services, Dr. Linda Arrington-Bowles and our new Assistant Director, Maria Eppolite.
"Come early, say hello, get some popcorn and a drink and get ready for a fun-packed learning experience!"
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C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1582
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 5:24 pm: | |
Thanks for posting, Finnegan.
Cathy |
lumpyhead
Citizen
Username: Lumpyhead
Post Number: 443
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 5:36 pm: | |
Why isn't Pete's child safe at school? |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 298
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:27 am: | |
I'd rather not discuss it online. Please private line me if you'd like to talk on the phone.
Is anyone on this board planning on going to the meeting Thursday? I will be unable to attend and would appreciate an overview.
Pete |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1584
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 2:18 pm: | |
I'm thinking of going because of a recent career change into Special Ed (providing mental health services to kids in need of same.) The movie sounds useful.
Cathy |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 395
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 6:29 pm: | |
It is a wonderful movie - in fact, it was shown at a recent district in-service to some of the faculty to start a discussion on the feelings of the learning disabled child, in the Special Ed. class or in the regular ed. classroom.
If you haven't seen it, it is a real eye-opener. I've seen it several times and always come away with something new from it. |
emmie
Citizen
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 143
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 7:23 pm: | |
My ex husband and I started the Special Ed PTA back in the eary 1980s. We were just so frustrated and it seemed the main stream PTAs didn't have a clue what we special ed parents where up against. I am thrilled to see it still exists. Steve Overy was the director at that time and, compared to what I see now, he was pretty good.
Our son somehow made it through childhood with the help of ritalin and the self contained classrooms/teachers at Tuscan. (LD/ADHD) He went into the Marine Corps a year or so after CHS and everytime the phone rang I was affraid it was the Marines sending him home from boot camp. He made it just fine and it was good for *him* anyway. He is now 29 and has a lovely wife and one year old daughter. He has a cranberry farm in Cape Cod of 500 acres and is doing fine now. So guys, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it is a long, long tunnel. |
jacman
Citizen
Username: Jacman
Post Number: 135
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 9:29 pm: | |
Yes, Fat City is an important film and everyone should see it, even if you do not have a classified child.
However, there have been many, many problems created this year in Special Ed due to the administration's top-down and ill-advised directives. The eliminattion of resource rooms, failure to provide services for the ED kids who have been brought back to the district, computer issues and serious lack of staff are just a few of the many problems.
I hope the special ed PTA will take an active role in confronting the administration so that IEPs can be implemented and our kids can get the services to which they are entitled. One avenue of action would be to work with SOMEA. |
debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 97
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 11:44 pm: | |
I am posting this from warmer climes.
We moved from Maplewood to South Florida over the summer, and have a special ed kid.
I have generally been a strong supporter of our (SOMA) schools, and thrilled with all of the teachers but one. But I have to say - dealing with a new district for special services has been a real eye-opener.
My new district (Palm Beach County) has been an absolute delight to work with. When I was making informational calls before we bought our new home, I got more information, personal time, and assurances of specific services (that have all come true) than I was ever able to get at SOMA (where I was already a resident, and officially in the system, and paying $12K in taxes.
The support my son gets is better in its planning and delivery than it has been since preschool (PLACE was an amazing program). The amount of support that is available, and the receptiveness of the child study team is a welcome change.
My new team has commented on the inadequacy of my son's evaluations and documentation, and said that the district was not in compliance with the law. They commented further that an IEP or progress report as vague as all of the ones I showed them from our time at SOMA would would be unacceptable, and even grounds for a dismissal, in this district.
Other than 2nd and 3rd grade speech, all of the services my son received were quite good. But they were not adequate for his needs, and we had to fight for everything we did manage to get. And it was an administrative nightmare.
I wish you all luck, and encourage you to be strong advocates for your children. Learn your rights, and make sure the team knows how much you know.
Debby
P.S. Emmie - thanks for the note - the tunnel sure does get long and twisty at times. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 841
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 2:02 pm: | |
I've heard from a reliable source that the State Department of Special Education has been called into CHS and have interviewed Special Education teachers. As a parent of a child who will be in Special Education next year at CHS, I'd like to know why the state is at CHS and what they are looking for.
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C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1592
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 4:46 pm: | |
It's quite possible that the Special Ed program is an area where we missed the mark on the new (unfunded) federal standards. I believe that that's the area that earned Princeton and a few other choice districts the same failing marks. But I'm just guessing here.
Cathy |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 845
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 7:34 pm: | |
I'm going to call Linda Bowles tomorrow for an explanation and will post her response here and on the SE website. |
Dillon
Citizen
Username: Dillon
Post Number: 4
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 8:10 pm: | |
I think it would be terrific to hear from Linda Bowles. Marie, please keep us posted. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 846
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 9:09 pm: | |
Dillon,
Will do.  |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 44
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 7:03 pm: | |
So, Marie, did you ever hear from Dr. Arrington-Bowles? (I heard her say publically that she is "really trying" to return all her phhone calls each day.)
Just wondering.
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marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 859
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 3, 2003 - 3:55 pm: | |
An interesting article appeared in Sunday's Star Ledger. Copies are available online.
Schools confront higher special education standards
Federal law puts spotlight on often-neglected students
Sunday, November 02, 2003
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marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 862
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 9:58 am: | |
Schools confront higher special education standards
Federal law puts spotlight on often-neglected students
Sunday, November 02, 2003
BY JOHN MOONEY
Star-Ledger Staff
At Kittatinny Regional High School, what was noteworthy in a recent science class wasn't the usual bustle of students, but the calm.
Of the 20 students in the 10th-grade class, a dozen or so had learning disabilities. Yet with the help of some innovative software and a computerized blackboard known as a Smartboard, everyone in the room was paying rapt attention to a lesson on viruses and bacteria.
Jobfair Information
Marianne Chletsos, the district's special education director, said the technology helps engage the students. She pointed to one boy who typically might have his head on the desk. Instead he was tapping away on the laptop. Another student who is prone to distraction stood transfixed by the Smartboard screen.
"Some kids never did homework, but for this class they do it every night," she said. "It's fun, it's exciting for them."
The approach is part of the Sussex County district's push to integrate special education students into the rest of the school. It's hardly a new notion in American education but one that has suddenly seen new urgency in New Jersey and elsewhere.
Much of the impetus is the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal law that has shaken schools nationwide, especially in special education.
Under the law, schools must show steady improvements in performance among all categories of students, including by race and income. Those that fall short in just one of 40 categories are labeled as "needing improvement" and face potential sanctions.
New Jersey this fall alerted three quarters of its high schools and half of its middle schools that they are in jeopardy of such a label.
Special education was the chief sticking point for more than 500 middle and high schools in New Jersey identified by the state this fall as falling short of required achievement levels.
The number of schools that will fail because of special education is likely to rise. Consider this: Except for those with the most severe disabilities, every special education student -- from those with learning problems to the autistic -- will be required by the year 2014 to pass the same statewide test as general education students, albeit with modifications.
"I wouldn't say it wasn't academic before, but not necessarily to the same standards as other students," said Barbara Gantwerk, director of New Jersey's Office of Special Education Programs.
"People had lower expectations," she said. "But now everyone wants to know how these students do off the regular curriculum. That's a very different question."
That question has troubled educators like Chletsos, who say they have long pushed for meshing special and general education, or so- called "inclusion," but now wonder whether the expectations are too much, too soon.
Half of Kittatinny's special education students who took last year's state assessment passed, and the school has so far stayed off the state's long list of under-performing high schools as dictated by the new federal law.
But as those levels rise each year, Chletsos wonders how long her school will be spared.
"We have really enhanced how we access the regular curriculum for these students," said Chletsos. "But I'm not going to tell you we will do as well as with regular education students. You can't make someone 5-foot-8 suddenly 6 feet tall, no matter what."
The new federal mandates come to a state with a checkered history in special education.
Once a pioneer in recognizing the educational needs of disabled students, New Jersey more recently has been chided for falling short in ensuring those students are in the "least restrictive environment," as required under the landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
About 45 percent of New Jersey's 220,000 students with disabilities were educated in mostly general education settings, near the average nationally, in the 2002-2003 school year. Yet that number has dropped slightly in the past five years. And New Jersey sends nearly 10 percent of its special education students to separate schools, by far the highest of any state.
But the No Child Left Behind Act has provided a new set of pressures, sending even high-performing districts scrambling.
In Hopewell Valley Regional schools, the early warning has already hit the high school. Special education teacher Heidi Olson in the Hopewell Elementary School worries what message that sends out at a time when rising special education costs are already straining the district.
Olson has worked for 17 years in both the elementary and high school levels, helping students with mild learning or behavioral problems to children with Down syndrome and autism.
"We really take the academics seriously, but my job is to prepare them not just in the academics but also for life," she said. "They will succeed, but they have to at their own rate and in a true sense of the word, not just passing a test."
By labeling a whole school as underperforming due to the results of those few students, "you are stigmatizing an already stigmatized population," she said.
Not all are lamenting the changes. The law wants to improve the education of special education students who too often have been moved along without learning even basic skills.
"I have had so many calls from parents, especially African-American parents, who say, 'Thank God for No Child Left Behind,'" said Diana Autin, co-director of the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network. "After being shunted aside all of these years, they say, 'Now my child counts.'"
Autin and other parent advocates have their concerns with the federal law, especially because it provides little new funding for special education. But she said it is bringing needed attention to instruction that now is inconsistent across the state, especially in the area of reading.
"A majority of special education kids are learning disabled, most in the area of reading, but are often really smart kids," said Autin. "For a vast majority, it is not a matter of intelligence or intellectual capacity. This law will encourage districts to think more about how bring appropriate services (for those students) into the classroom."
Lost in all the attention over No Child Left Behind has been the pending reauthorization of IDEA, the landmark special education law first enacted in 1975.
Now being debated before the Senate, the Bush administration has proposed to revamp much of that law, including scaling back the reams of safeguards and other procedures that surround a child's education program, called the Individualized Education Plan.
The amount of paperwork and time required in this planning has been a common complaint of districts and educators, some saying it often takes away from the programs themselves.
Yet parents who count on the IEP process to ensure students are receiving required programs have countered that many of the proposed IDEA changes would weaken those protections.
Under a bill already passed by the House, for instance, schools and parents would have the right to move to three-year IEPs, instead of the current annual IEPs, and advocates say the schools would be less accountable for making shorter-term goals.
Discipline procedures that require schools to take into account a student's disability before a long- term suspension could be gutted. Parent due-process rights would be reduced.
With the largest special education population in the state, Newark's director of special education, Larry Ashley, said there is fine balance to strike in both this and the No Child Left Behind changes. But either way, he said the heightened attention is good.
"I think a lot of this is overdue," said Ashley, the special education director in Millburn before coming to Newark last year. "It forces us to focus on what counts, and maybe some people don't like that. But there is accountability in business and the medicine, why not here, too?"
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peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 327
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 12:41 pm: | |
any word from Dr Bowles? |
Dillon
Citizen
Username: Dillon
Post Number: 5
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 8:00 pm: | |
Marie, Its been two weeks. Did you ever hear from Dr. Bowles? |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 882
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2003 - 11:12 am: | |
I've put in two more calls, yesterday and today and am still waiting for a response. I'm going to stop by her office today and make an appointment with her secretary for a meeting. I'll post what I find out. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 883
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 7:42 pm: | |
Dr Bowles returned my phone call yesterday evening. She confirmed the state had been in to investigate a complaint filed last Spring which alleged over crowding in the Resource Room classes. The investigator was there approximately two and half weeks ago and CHS hasn't heard back yet regarding the findings of the investigation. |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 51
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 8:39 pm: | |
Thanks, Marie. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 886
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 10:31 pm: | |
You're welcome.
She also recommended that anyone interested in seeing the class scheduling for this year, make an appointment to speak with Janice McGowan. I also asked if it was possible to tour the Special Ed classes at CHS and she recommended speaking with the Principal to make those arrangements. While she didn't have any problem with the idea, she wasn't sure if the principal would allow it or not.
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marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 916
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 2:31 pm: | |
I received a copy of the Special Education Investigation findings for CHS.
Conclusion:
The original issue under investigation was whether the district exceeded the permitted class sizes for resource room programs. However, in the course of the investigation, it was determined that the district's "academic lab" does not meet the criteria for a resource room program as set forth in New Jersey's special education regulations at N>J>A>C> 6A:14-4-6(h) Therefore, no determination can be made as to whether the district exceeded the class size limits for a resource program.
Districts may provide supplemental aids and services and may offer such supportive programs according to locally identified needs. These programs may not be identified as resource programs since the term has a specific meaning defined by special education regulation. In this instance, the district failed to provide the resource program that was described in the IEP.s of several students. As the district no longer offers the program, no corrective action is needed. However, the district is advised to review all special education programs to assure compliance with regulatory requirements and to assure that students' IEP's accurately reflect the program provided. |
Dillon
Citizen
Username: Dillon
Post Number: 9
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 9:48 pm: | |
Thank you Marie to be concerned enough to investigate this. I just hope that the kids get what they need. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 917
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 9:26 pm: | |
Dillon,
Fortunately, Special Education is protected by the law - It appears as though the SOMA Special Education Dept. has been "put on notice" and will be under some closer scrutiny. Any parent of a child in Special Ed who believes their child's IEP is not being upheld can and should put a complaint into The State Dept. of Special Education. |
All Children Excelling--Concerned Citize
Citizen
Username: Ace
Post Number: 8
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 6, 2003 - 10:48 pm: | |
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL, INC., a school for children with learning disabilities based in Teaneck, NJ, is hosting a lecture on reading instruction and reading difficulties. The featured speaker is G. Reid Lyon of the National Institutes of Health. This might be of particular interest to members of the Special Education PTA.
December 11, 2003 at 1:30 pm
Dickinson Hall, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Teaneck, NJ
The Community School, Inc. is pleased to present:
Reading Development, Reading Difficulties, and Reading Instruction: How Scientific Research Can Guide Instructional Practices
This presentation will summarize over two decades of scientific research that has helped us understand how children learn to read, why some children have difficulties doing so, and what can be done to help those children. An emphasis will be placed on describing practical strategies to identify children at risk for reading failure before school entry and the implementation of early intervention programs to prevent reading failure.
Our speaker is: G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D. Dr. Lyon is a Research Psychologist and the Chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. He is responsible for the direction, development and management of research programs in developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral pediatrics, reading, and human learning and learning disorders.
For registration information please call (201) 837-8070
The Community School, Inc. (www.communityschool.k12.nj.us) |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 956
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 1:23 pm: | |
Does anyone know what the topic of tomorrow night's PTA meeting will be and what time it starts? |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 56
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 2:38 pm: | |
Not that I've gotten a notice, but I've heard the speaker will be Dr. Jed Baker and he will talk about social skills. I also think the meetings usually start at 7:30.
Someone please correct me if I am wrong. |
Maxsdad
Citizen
Username: Maxsdad
Post Number: 40
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 4:07 pm: | |
Also did not get a notice, but our school's newsletter said that the time was 7:00 - 9:00. Not sure if this is accurate. Anyone have an official notice? |
John Huetz
Citizen
Username: Huetz
Post Number: 6
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 1:33 am: | |
We're pleased to announce the availability of a private discussion forum on the SO/M Special Education PTA website, intended for anyone interested in special education concerns and topics in the South Orange / Maplewood school district.
New member registration is on an invitation-only basis. For access to the forum, send your name and email address to account@somsepta.org and we'll send you back a login ID and password.
We will act as the forum moderators to start, however, we will reach out to interested PTA members to volunteer their assistance in moderating various topics and message threads.
Any questions, please email us at info@somsepta.org.
- John & Sharon Huetz |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 84
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 1:15 pm: | |
I believe, but have not received official notice of, a Special Ed PTA meeting is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, Mar.10, at 7:30 at the BOE.
Can anyone confirm? Anyone know the topic?
Thanks in advance. |
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