May 1, 2024 | Issue 128 (View newsletter as webpage) Para leer este boletín en Español, haga clic aquí

Important News

Special Education: Appointment of Special Monitor Under New Federal Settlement Agreement

Recently, during the week of April 8th, a U.S. District Court judge approved a settlement in a class action lawsuit between the New Jersey Department of Education and 5,000 families of New Jersey students receiving special education services.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that a due process hearing may be requested in case of disputes regarding special education services, with decisions rendered within a 45 day-timeline. However, according to a 2019 letter issued by the US Dept of Education, less than 5% of the 1300 due process complaints filed for the 2016-2017 school year were resolved in a timely manner.

This new agreement is a critical step towards addressing the long-standing issue of harmful delays within the special education due process complaint system. We look forward to the appointment of a compliance monitor to oversee the timely resolution of special education due process hearings.

For more detailed information regarding the specifics of the settlement, click here.

U.S. Department of Education Releases Final Title IX Regulations, Providing Vital Protections Against Sex Discrimination

On April 19, the U.S. Department of Education finalized a range of critical updates to its rule interpreting and enforcing Title IX—the landmark civil rights law that protects students from sex-based discrimination. These revisions restore and reinforce vital civil rights protections for all students to access school spaces and programs free from sex discrimination. The final regulations promote educational equity and opportunity for students across the country as well as accountability and fairness, while empowering and supporting students and families.

The final regulations:

Protect against all sex-based harassment and discrimination.
Promote accountability and fairness.
Empower and support students and families.

To read the Department's press release on the subject and learn about the final regulations in full, click here.

Resources

We Lost Our Medicaid. Now What?

We're sharing a Resource Toolkit recently posted by our colleagues in Iowa at the ASK Resource Center.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and families with Medicaid could keep their coverage without having a review to see if they were still eligible. Now that the public health emergency is over, most people who have Medicaid need to go through redetermination, the process to see if you are still eligible for Medicaid.

Millions of families have lost their Medicaid coverage in the Medicaid redetermination process, which puts children at risk of having gaps in their medical care. It's important to understand the redetermination process and what to do if you no longer qualify for Medicaid.

If you or a family member recently lost Medicaid or CHIP benefits, the ASK Resource Center recently posted a Resource Toolkit to give you more information and help with your next steps.

To access the Resource Toolkit, click here.

For more information from SPAN on Medicaid benefits, click here.

Upcoming Events

SPAN offers a variety of learning opportunities for families and the professionals who work with them.

Highlighted Event This Week

Family Engagement: Supporting Student Success

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET

Via Zoom

In this webinar, you will learn why Family Engagement is key to supporting success for ALL students and how strong partnerships between parents, school, and communities can help increase students' academic performance and long-term achievement.

Join the conversation, unlocking student success through family engagement.

This is a NJ Family Engagement Hub webinar.

To register, click here.

To learn more about the NJ Family Engagement Hub, click here.