Special Education Concerns Roxbury Township New Jersey NJ School District

SPECIAL EDUCATION
in the
Roxbury Township, New Jersey NJ
School District

An Individualized Education Plan, commonly referred to as an IEP, is required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

This Law requires public schools to develop an IEP for every student with a disability who is found to meet the federal and state requirements for special education.

We are well aware that some of the real heroes of the special services education process are those teachers and staff who work with students having pronounced special needs. We have seen the vans bringing students in wheelchairs to our schools, and can begin to appreciate the extra patience the teachers will need as they labor to bring those children along in basic skills. We've seen students with severe emotional swings being counseled by the Guidance staff so that they're able to complete their education. We truly and sincerely honor their work.

At the same time, we are becoming aware that among some families with students who have only very mild learning disabilities, and who have Individualized Education Plan (IEP's) to address that, there is a strong feeling that the program tradition in the Roxbury School District is to just pass kids through. There does not seem to be great expectations for their academic progress, and so all too often a minimalist approach is in evidence.

Behavioral issues within some Special Education classes also work against learning. Middle School administrators often show a lax attitude toward the toxic climate that prevails in some class groupings. That menacing atmosphere causes some kids to withdraw and link school to painful experiences. We saw this during our time at Eisenhower, 2006 - 2008, where a mostly befuddled Guidance Dept and Admins were largely ineffective at stopping repeated horrendous bullying that had been reported to them. (Some of that selfish, inept group left, transferred or retired the next year)

So, these questions almost pose themselves:
Is there a minimalist attitude toward academics for anyone with an IEP??
Are students with IEP's being sufficiently taught, tested, stretched and challenged??
Are students with severe and dangerous bullying behavior allowed to continue to harass??

To be honest, while we have our opinions on these issues, we can only base them on the experience of the four Roxbury families we've spoken with. So, perhaps this page will stir some discussion, or serve as a catalyst to get other families thinking about their situation. These families need to insist that all that can be done is done.

??? Did you know that in the last 5 years,
Roxbury has had 3 different Directors of Special Ed ???

Download the NJ Special Education Rights Code, hosted on our site