Important Info for Parents

The NJ Joint Committee on the Public Schools is holding a Public Hearing on Special Education issues on April 16 at 11:00 AM at the NJ Statehouse in Trenton. I would strongly encourage Cherry Hill parents to attend this meeting! You may use my blog to arrange carpools if necessary.

On the US Committee on Education website there is a statement from Chairman Miller that says, "In addition to the Title I and IDEA investments, the economic recovery plan also created a $54 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to help stabilize state and local budgets and restore harmful cuts to education."

Notice the wording "restore harmful cuts..." I think our cuts were harmful, how about you?

This statement claims that "emergency funds went out today and that the second installment will go out in the fall." To read more about this, click here.

I would like to thank all that attended the Board of Education meetings on Monday, March 30th and Wednesday, April 1st. Unfortunately, the needs of our very special children were not taken seriously. Anytime a town views a pricey school trip (that is not mandated) or high priced administrative salaries over the needs of our most vulnerable children, is a sad day.

Many of you have expressed concerns that if you file a Due Process Claim it would only add to our already stretched school budget. I, like you, thought that the legal fees would add to the school budget and that it would be passed on to taxpayers. While it was very kind and generous for us to think of others -- even though most, apparently, do not consider our children's needs -- there is no need to worry about this anymore! I recently learned that most of the legal fees for Due Process are covered by insurance. So go ahead, put your child's needs first and file away!

I do not cherish the thought of clogging our Administrative Law Office with an endless amount of Due Process claims, but this is your legal right. I would suggest that you first try to reach an amicable agreement on what is appropriate for your child's individual needs. However, when they start playing games and denying necessary evaluations, appropriate placements and related services; and hand you that completely inappropriate pre-written IEP, that our district is becoming famous for -- utilize your Due Process rights! You are not burdening our school budget with legal fees as many of us were led to believe.

I will try to post a list of attorneys and child advocates on the IEP section of the blog.