Senate Majority Leader Ruiz, Caucus members, state education officials, and parent advocates examine how to put the IEP Working Group’s 17 recommendations into practice, with a focus on family participation, accountability, and student-led planning

The New Jersey Bipartisan Legislative Disability Caucus convened a session focused on moving the recommendations of the New Jersey Individualized Education Program (IEP) Working Group into practice, bringing together legislators, state education officials, parents, and disability advocates to discuss ways to improve IEP development, implementation, and family involvement. The session was led by Caucus Co-Chair, Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz.

Mercedes Witowsky, Executive Director of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, opened the meeting and welcomed attendees on behalf of the bipartisan caucus. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that families have a meaningful role in the IEP process, which helps establish a student’s educational goals, services, accommodations, and supports.

“Families are essential members of the IEP team, but meaningful participation requires more than simply being invited to a meeting,” said Witowsky. “By bringing legislators, educators, families, and advocates together, we can identify the gaps that stand in the way of effective collaboration and work toward a system where every student’s needs, strengths, and voice are truly reflected in their education.”

In her opening remarks, Senator Ruiz discussed the legislation she championed, P.L. 2025, c. 107, which established the New Jersey IEP Working Group and strengthened requirements intended to improve communication and preparation for families participating in IEP meetings. The law took effect in stages, with the notice requirements fully implemented on July 1, 2026. The legislation also established a working group to examine existing practices and recommend improvements to IEP development, implementation, and parent involvement.

The Working Group, which brought together parents, educators, school administrators, child study team professionals, disability experts, and other stakeholders, released its final report in January 2026. The report includes 17 recommendations across five priority areas, along with additional recommendations aimed at improving collaboration and addressing persistent challenges in the special education process.

Senator Ruiz highlighted the importance of giving families the opportunity to review information and prepare questions in advance of any IEP meeting. Her law requires that documents be provided at least two days in advance, giving families time to review materials that often contain complex terminology, especially when they face language or other access barriers. She also emphasized the value of continued collaboration among lawmakers, educators, and families as the state works to implement the recommendations.

"The more we listen to families and learn from their lived experiences, the better our policies become," said Senate Majority Leader Ruiz. "Every family deserves the opportunity to understand their child's needs, ask questions, and participate meaningfully in decisions about their education. Navigating each child’s unique educational journey can be very overwhelming for parents and caregivers, which is why policies must work to remove barriers that make the process more difficult. We have made important progress, but continued collaboration and accountability are essential to making sure that progress translates into better outcomes for students."

Parul Khemka, a member of the IEP Working Group, parent advocate, and President of the Livingston Board of Education, shared the parent perspective that helped inform the group’s recommendations. Khemka described the challenges families can face when they first receive their child’s IEP at the meeting itself, leaving no time to review lengthy documents, understand technical language, or prepare questions. She emphasized the importance of transparency, culturally responsive practices, language access, and a more collaborative relationship between families and schools.

Kim Murray, Ed.D., Acting Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, outlined the department’s efforts to incorporate the Working Group’s recommendations into existing resources, professional development, family engagement supports, and school district monitoring. The department has conducted a review of its resources to identify areas of alignment and gaps and is developing additional guidance to help educators strengthen IEP quality.

Murray highlighted a new resource focused on quality indicators for the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) statement, a foundational component of the IEP that documents a student’s strengths, needs, and current performance. The resource, which was in final review at the time of the meeting, is expected to include a quality checklist, guiding questions, examples of effective statements, and supporting resources for families and educators.

The department also plans to incorporate the recommendations into its model IEP, IEP toolkit, professional development programs, webinars, and communities of practice. Murray confirmed that the legislative requirements effective July 1 have been added to the department’s monitoring protocols and incorporated into the special education regulations currently under revision.

During the discussion, caucus members raised questions about how the State can ensure that IEPs are implemented effectively, how districts will be held accountable for student progress, and how families can identify concerns and access appropriate support earlier. Murray described the department’s ongoing planning for a potential educational benefit review pilot, which would examine a sample of students’ IEPs, progress-monitoring records, and educational data over three years to better understand whether students are making meaningful progress. She also discussed the importance of early interventions and stronger coordination between general and special education.

The session also highlighted the importance of ensuring that students themselves have an active role in their educational planning. Frank Latham, Youth Leadership and People First Coordinator at the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, discussed the council’s work to promote student-led IEPs through role-playing, self-advocacy training, and peer-to-peer learning. These approaches help students build the skills and confidence to share their strengths, challenges, goals, and perspectives with their IEP teams.

Caucus members and speakers closed the session with a shared commitment to continued collaboration on improving special education practices, strengthening family engagement, and ensuring that students with disabilities receive the supports they need to succeed.

A recording of the October 27 session and related resources is available at njcdd.org/legislative-disability-caucus-schedule-and-recording.
IEP Working Group Final Report January 2026: https://tinyurl.com/IEP-Working-Group-Report
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Next Session:
The next meeting of the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus is scheduled for Tuesday, January 26, 2027.

About the New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus
Formed in December 2020, the Caucus is a bipartisan forum within the New Jersey Legislature for lawmakers and their staff to consider the impact on the disability community when shaping all public policies in the Garden State. The Caucus is co-chaired by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz (D-29), Assembly Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald (D-6), Republican Leader Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25), and Assistant Minority Whip Aura K. Dunn (R-25). Participation in the Caucus is open to all legislators who agree to be champions for individuals with disabilities in New Jersey by meeting with them in their district offices, participating in quarterly education forums, and promoting policies to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families. People with disabilities, their families, and organizations that serve, support, and advocate for people with disabilities in the Garden State serve as a resource for the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus. For more information about the Caucus and to get involved, visit njcdd.org/legislative-disability-caucus.