DOE Approves the Use of Virtual Instruction for IEP Mandated Services

On Wednesday, April 1st, the New Jersey State Board of Education held their first virtual meeting to discuss an emergency action to temporarily suspend a rule that prohibits school districts from delivering special education and other related services to students with disabilities through the use of electronic communications, virtual, remote or other online platforms. The board voted in favor of the emergency action and agreed to move quickly in order to provide additional guidance on how districts should implement these changes.

This action will allow the state’s 200,000 students with disabilities to access their IEP-mandated educational and related services via virtual instruction for this period of time that schools are closed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

We applaud the Department of Education for taking these necessary steps at this time and acknowledge there will be ongoing questions regarding implementation and the need for guidance and clarity from the Department.

Experience Our Power of Connection

Autism New Jersey is following recommendations from the CDC and state Department of Health, and is implementing telework and remote meetings for its employees to help reduce the community spread of the coronavirus.

During this time, our 800.4.AUTISM Helpline will remain open. Please leave a message with specific dates and times you are available for a call-back, or email information@autismnj.org.  You can also message us via our website, and we’ll aim to reply promptly.

We remain focused on our mission to be a resource for the autism community. With a fluid situation and great uncertainty, we’ll share relevant, accurate information as it becomes available. We encourage you to regularly visit our central hub of coronavirus resources for the autism community.