Feb 7th: SEPTA Board Meeting 7pm S.R. Elem. Library

Feb 12th: SEPTA workshop "Strategies for Diverse Learners" Middle School Cafetorium 7-9 pm Please Register (See Calendar for details)

Feb 14th: Report Cards (K - 12)

Feb 18st: President's Day- **No School **

Feb 21th: Middlesex County Special Child Health Meeting: E..B. Public Library 7:30 pm

Feb 25th: Board of Ed. Pre-Meeting 7pm Admin. Office

Feb 28th : Board of Ed. Meeting 7pm H.S. Library

January was an important month for education reform in New Jersey and across the county.

First New Jersey enacted legislation that gives School district across the state as much as $25 million in additional funds to cover the cost of special education students above $40,000 per pupil. This additional funding starts in the 2003 - 2004 school year.

Second, on January 8th President Bush re-authorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). For the first time in its 36 year history the ESEA defines the term parent involvement based on National PTA's National Standards for Parent and Family Involvement. This definition of parent involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring that parents play an integral role in assisting their child's learning, that parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's education at schools, and that parents are full partners in their children's education included, as appropriate, in the decision-making and on advisory committees.

Three years ago, National PTA initiated the Parent Act, which sought to strengthen, parent participation policies in ESEA. The Parent Act provisions included in the bill would:

• ensure Title I families can access data on their child's progress in terms they can understand;
• have states collect and disseminate information about effective parental involvement practices to ensure schools know how to encourage and expand parental participation;
• have states and schools describe how the use of education technology will be used to connect schools and families;
• require professional development activities to include training on how to involve and work with parents in their child's education;
• require states and districts to annually review parent involvement activities to ensure effectiveness.

Bill Sellar

The South River Dept. of Recreation will be starting an adaptive t-ball league for children with special needs in March of 2002.

Registration fee per child will be $20.00 and children must supply their own mitt. All other equipment including t-shirts and hats will be provided by the South River Recreation Department.

*This program is run entirely by the South River Dept. of Recreation. Practices will be held on Saturday mornings at Varga Park in South River and will run for 12 weeks.

If you are interested in signing your child up for t-ball this spring, please fill out the attached form. SEPTA will be contacting you in early March to notify you of registration dates and practice schedules as a courtesy to our community.

Child's Name:_____________________________

Age:__________ School:___________________

Parent/Guardian's Name:___________________________________

Address:_________________________________

Town:___________________________________

Phone Number:____________________________

Email Address:____________________________

() I would be interested in helping coach in this league.

() No, I am not able to help coach at this time.

() Yes, I would like to hear about future SEPTA events by () mail or by () email.

Please return this form with your child to school in an envelope marked "SEPTA"

Or mail to:

SEPTA of South River
T-ball league
33 Pulawski Ave.
South River, NJ 08882

The Secretary of Education invites written comments from the public on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to assist the Department in preparing for reauthorization of the Act in 2002. In order to ensure that comments are considered by the Department in preparing its legislative proposal on IDEA, you should submit comments before February 25, 2002.

All comments concerning the reauthorization of IDEA should be addressed to Thomas Irvin, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, and submitted by one of the following methods:

1. Internet. We encourage you to send your comments through the Internet at the following address: Comments@ed.gov. You must use the term IDEA Reauthorization in the subject line of your electronic message.
2. Surface Mail. Alternatively, you may submit your comments via surface mail to: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Mary E. Switzer Building, Room 3086, Washington DC 20202-2570.

In submitting your comments, please identify the area of your involvement in special education, regular education or early intervention, as well as your role, if any, in that area (e.g., parent, teacher, student, service provider, administrator, or researcher). In addition, if appropriate to your comments, please identify the specific Part and section of IDEA that is the subject of your comments, and specify why the statute needs to be amended.

More information on the US Dept of Education's Request for Comments can be found on SEPTA's Website or Contact SEPTA at (732) 432-6747