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March 1, 2023 | Issue 68 (View newsletter as webpage) Para leer este boletín en Español, haga clic aquí

Important News

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Discipline Discussions: Informal Removals Matter

OSEP Blog


For many parents of children with disabilities, a middle-of-the-day phone call from school means that their child's behavior has caused a disruption and they must be picked up immediately to help their child "calm down." Parents are forced to leave their workday commitments and go to school to pick up their children.


Sometimes the removal from school is only for the rest of that school day but sometimes it is longer These removals often go uncounted because they are not reported as suspensions. IDEA discipline protections have specific rules about suspensions of children with disabilities.


OSEP published comprehensive IDEA discipline requirements guidance in July, 2022.This package defines these types of removals from school as "informal removals" and provides guidance to help all stakeholders better understand and prevent informal removals.


The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), is one of SPAN's organizational capacity-building projects funded by OSEP.

In the most recent OSEP blog, CPIR provides responses to key questions related to informal removals, such as:

  • Why must parents and school personnel recognize the use and impact of informal removals?
  • What are possible next steps a parent can take if their child's school repeatedly calls them to pick up their child from school due to their behavior?


Read the OSEP Blog post and CPIR responses here

Resources


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Act Early.

Resilience Toolkit

Resilience is defined as the ability to endure and grow from adversity.


Building this ability in children involves strengthening the knowledge of parents/caregivers about:

  • Parenting
  • Child development
  • Social connections and networks of support
  • Social and emotional competence of children


The “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” 

Resilience Toolkit provides resources for supporting the developmental health and resiliency of children ages 3-5 and their families.


Click here and scroll down to access the resources in the toolkit


All resources are available in English and Spanish. Several resources are also available in Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and Haitian Creole.


Celebrating Parent Leadership

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February is National Parent Leadership Month


SPAN joined Parents Inc, led by Kathy Roe, in celebrating Parent Leaders across NJ at the Statewide Parent Leadership Recognition Event on Friday, February 24, 2023.


The nominees were selected for this award based on their significant contributions to support the principles of Parents Inc:

  • Parent leadership
  • Mutual support
  • Shared leadership
  • Personal growth


Congratulations to SPAN's nominees for the Jolly K Award - LaVonia Abavana, David Armstrong, Meredith Brooks, and Henry Tejada and all of the other honorees.

Upcoming Events


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


Highlighted Event This Week

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Honoring the 30th Anniversary of FMLA and Exploring New Jersey Paid Leave Protection  

TODAY - March 1, 2023

2:30 - 4:00 pm


The U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau in conjunction with the NJ Department Of Labor(DOL) is hosting an event on Federal and State leave in New Jersey, as well as maternity leave's link to Black maternal health.


Speakers include:

  • First Lady Tammy Murphy
  • NJDOL Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo
  • NJDOL Deputy Commissioner Julie Diaz
  • SPAN's Paid Leave Ambassador Danica LaFortune


Register Here

See all of SPAN's upcoming events with details and registration links here 

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Building Trust


Read the latest blog post, "Building Trust," about creating connections or how relationships can change your life as you develop a support system to lean on in challenging times.


Click here to read the blog

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