Education Committee Vice Chair, East Newark Superintendent and Lifelong Educator Invites Parents to Share Firsthand Experiences as She Prepares Legislation to Strengthen State Oversight of Special Education

Livingston, New Jersey - State Assemblywoman Dr. Rosy Bagolie (D-27th) will hold a community town hall forum on Special Education at her Livingston office on Thursday, October 22nd at 6:00 pm.  The event will foster needed community dialogue and follow up after a recent New Jersey Assembly Education Committee hearing raised concerns about the state’s effectiveness in monitoring, investigating, and overseeing special education services in school districts. The forum is intended to provide Livingston parents and caregivers a platform to learn more about the issue, ask questions, and share firsthand experiences, especially those who have struggled to access special education services, navigate the complaint process, or get appropriate remedies for their children.

“There are clear issues and deep concerns in how Special Education is being administered in the Garden State, and we must act strategically and proactively,” stated Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie (D-27th). “The state legislature must not work in a silo.  When issues arise, we must have honest conversations, work together to find the right solutions, and listen to those being most affected.  Like so many parents in the 27th District, this issue is a passion point for me.  As a lifelong educator with a master's degree in special education, and as someone who sits on both sides of the table, we must find the right way to strengthen protections for students with disabilities and ensure families have meaningful avenues to address their concerns. The work we do on Thursday night will be crucial to developing legislation that I plan to bring to Trenton.  My hope is that this forum can serve as the beginning of a dialogue that provides our parents the ability to ultimately shape and improve state policy.  I look forward to hearing firsthand concerns so we can all better understand how existing policies and procedures work, identify the clear gaps between the protections established under the law and the realities families experience, collaborate on defining needed recommendations, and provide a platform for families whose voices may not otherwise reach the legislative process.”

To address this issue, the Education Law Center (ELC) has already submitted a series of legislative recommendations to improve state and district transparency, accountability, and enforcement, ensuring appropriate remedies are seamlessly addressed when violations or concerns occur. A staff attorney from the Center will be joining to discuss their recommendations.

The event is open to the public.  For those interested in attending, please register by clicking HERE.

In addition to providing families the opportunity to speak publicly, families with privacy concerns can also share their experiences confidentially by clicking HERE.

          WHAT:      State Assemblywoman Dr. Rosy Bagolie’s
                           Special Education Parent Town Hall 

         WHEN:      Thursday, October 22nd
                            6:00 p.m.

         WHERE:    Office of Assemblywoman Dr. Rosy Bagolie
                            651 Old Mount Pleasant Avenue
                            Livingston