Special Education and Distance Learning in New Jersey During the Pandemic

Despite the pandemic, school districts are presently obligated to provide a free and appropriate public education to the greatest extent possible. In this new distance learning reality, there are many challenges, especially for those with special needs. This program will also examine the challenges surrounding distance learning for students with disabilities and what attorneys can do to protect student rights. 

The course will review recent legal developments in New Jersey special education, including directives and guidance from the New Jersey Department of Education, the Federal government, Governor Phil Murphy's Executive Orders related to education, newly-enacted laws and temporarily modified regulations concerning virtual and remote instruction, and the status of the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) with respect to special education matters. This program will also discuss issues developing in the COVID-19 social distancing environment, including online parental waivers concerning the implementation of distance learning, annual IEP meetings, and student assessments. 

Presented by Debra Clifford and Mary Frances Palisano, this program will benefit attorneys for children with special needs.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify new laws, guidance, and executive orders put in place relating to special education
2. Review legal developments in the area of special education since the health crisis
3. Discuss what parents can do to ensure that the needs of students are being met
4. Forecast potential issues when school resumes