This week, school administrators, special education supervisors and parents of children with special needs attended a conference on special education in Edison, New Jersey. Eleven different Orthodox day schools from across the state were represented. The conference, hosted by Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-36 Passaic), was led by Mrs. Leah Steinberg, Director of Project LEARN and Special Education Affairs of Agudath Israel of America, and coordinated by Josh Pruzansky, Executive Director of Agudath Israel of New Jersey. Mr. Pruzansky called the conference “the first step in achieving equality in special education services for our children.” He also stated that, “Agudath Israel of New Jersey has made this issue a legislative priority. We are committed to ensuring that parents, struggling with the high costs of special needs services in private and parochial schools, can obtain the necessary funding assistance already guaranteed to public school attendees.”
The conference focused on identifying the special education needs of children not currently being met by funding from local school districts or the State of New Jersey. The evening concluded with a renewed commitment to find ways to legislate solutions to this issue, vital to a great number of Jewish families in New Jersey. “With so many children not receiving the services they need to thrive, I greatly appreciate the dedication Assemblyman Schaer has shown to this matter and the concerns of our community,” noted Mrs. Steinberg.
Assemblyman Schaer stated, “The conference brought together our top leaders from the special needs and Jewish communities. We now have the opportunity to ensure that the resources of the state and the local school boards are properly assisting all private and parochial schools in addition to our public schools.”
Project LEARN, under the auspices of Agudath Israel of America, answers the call of the specials needs population in the New York City metropolitan area. Parents can get help navigating the often complicated and frustrating educational system to get the most appropriate services for their children. Project LEARN helps families with any special need find the program, funding, or school they require. The New Jersey conference was the first step in expanding the reach of this program and broadening its geographic scope.
(YWN Desk – NYC)