parental rights and engagement

Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE), English - May 2023
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Policy and Procedure Resources

Facilitated Individualized Education Program (FIEP)

Technical Assistance

Statewide Technical Assistance and Resource Team (START)

Support Resources

Hotlines and Helplines

Each district board of education shall ensure that a special education parent advisory group is
in place in the district to provide input to the district on issues concerning students with disabilities. (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.2(h))

A Guide for Best Practices in Developing and Implementing an Effective SEPAG

Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) Manual (English)
Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) Manual (Spanish)

The SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) faciliates the START-Engaging Parent of Students with Disabilities (EPSD) project. This project offers assistance and services through workshops trainings, and parent leadership development activities. These efforts aim to support the engagement of families to improve outcomes for students, including developing and supporting Special Education Parent Advisory Groups (SEPAGs) in communities and school districts. Click on the link below for more information.

START–Engaging Parents of Students with Disabilities | SPAN Parent Advocacy Network

The Office of Special Education (OSE) is committed to supporting families of students with disabilities throughout the dispute resolution process in alignment with N.J.A.C. 6A:14 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). To enhance this support, OSE created the Family Support Specialist (FSS) position, a role dedicated exclusively to assisting families navigating disagreements related to special education services. The FSS offers individualized guidance via phone and email on topics such as effective communication with districts, early resolution, mediation, and due process. This role complements the broader function of the Special Education Ombudsman by focusing specifically on helping families understand and access their dispute resolution options.

The FSS ensures families receive clear, up-to-date information and practical tools tailored to their unique needs, empowering them to make informed decisions. By tracking data daily, the FSS identifies trends and provides feedback to improve the dispute resolution system, keeping family perspectives central to program development. With over half of all inquiries to OSE involving dispute resolution—most initiated by families—the creation of the FSS role addresses a growing demand for focused, empathetic, and knowledgeable support.

Special Education Ombudsman

The role of the Special Education Ombudsman is to serve as a resource to provide information and support to parents, students and educators regarding special education rights and services. Appointed by the Commissioner of Education, the ombudsman performs duties that include serving as a source of information for parents, students, educators and interested members of the public that helps them better understand state and federal laws and regulations governing special education. The ombudsman also provides information and support to parents of students with disabilities to help them understand and navigate the process for obtaining special education evaluations and services.

The duties of the Special Education Ombudsman will include, at a minimum, the following:

(1) Serve as a source of information regarding state and federal laws and regulations governing special education;

(2) Provide information and support to parents of students with disabilities to help them understand and navigate the process for obtaining special-education evaluations and services;

(3) Provide information and communication strategies to parents and school districts for resolving disagreements concerning special-education issues, and to educate parents on the available options for resolving such disputes;

(4) Work neutrally and objectively with all parties to help ensure that a fair process is followed and that the special-education system functions equitably and as intended;

(5) Identify any patterns of complaints that emerge regarding special-education rights and services and recommend strategies for improvement to the Department of Education;

(6) Assist the Department in creating public information programs that educate parents and the public about the ombudsman's duties; and

(7) Serve as a resource for disability-related information and referrals to other available programs and services for individuals with disabilities, including early intervention and transition to adult life.

The Special Education Ombudsman will treat communication received in the course of his or her duties as confidential. The ombudsman will make an annual report to the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education that includes a summary of the services the ombudsman provided during the year, along with recommendations concerning the state's implementation of special-education procedures and services.

Tracy Gillespie
Phone: 609-376-9060
Email: OSEinfo@doe.nj.gov.