Lawsuit alleges New Jersey fails to meet obligation to mainstream disabled students
A coalition of child advocacy groups has filed a lawsuit in federal district court against the New Jersey Department of Education alleging the state has failed to meet its obligation to educate students with disabilities alongside other students. Under federal law, states provide a "free appropriate public education" in the "least restrictive environment" to students with disabilities. The law calls for including more children in general classrooms and fewer in classrooms or schools designated specifically for disabled children. The coalition includes the New Jersey Protection and Advocacy Inc., the Education Law Center, the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey, and the Arc of New Jersey. Their suit is asking the court to order the state to put more children with disabilities in mainstream classrooms, provide aides to help them, more training for teachers and meaningful individualized education plans for students with disabilities.
Philadelphia Inquirer
By Associated Press
[Full story]
[Editor’s Note: For background on the litigation, including a link to the legal complaint, see below.]
[New Jersey Protection and Advocacy Inc. litigation page]