The South River Advocate |
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Vol.5 Issue 7 |
The Newsletter of SEPTA of South River | April 2004 |
| http://www.specialeducationpta.org | email: info@specialeducationpta.org | Information Line (732) 651-7157 |
Feb.3:ARISE: Services Available for College bound Special Education Students. 7:30pm Holmdel Indian Middle School email mrizzo56@aol.com for more information
Feb 4: SEPTA Workshop: Learn How to Manage it All - South River Public Library 6:30 pm
Feb 5:Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office seminar: Internet Safety 7pm South River Public Library
Feb 18th:Develop an IEP that Makes Sense Paula Lieb at the Freehold H.S. Call (732) 786-1208 for more information
Feb. 24th:Mock IEP’s. Overview and discussion of the IEP process followed by role playing designed to give you the confidence you need at your child’s IEP meeting. 6:45- 8:45pm Manalapan Library Call (732) 224-9073 for more information.
March ? : Transition Planning and Your Child-What every Parent Needs to Know Time and location?
March 15th:2004 SEPTA $250.00 Scholarship : Applications Available from the Office of Special Education, your child’s teacher or online at www.specialeducationpta.org Submission Deadline for Scholarship: April 30th, 2004
Some common tax techniques highlighted in the Schwab article include:
Medical Expense Deduction:
The IRS has ruled that the following expenses may qualify as a medical expense deductions. Remember medical expenses are deductible only to the extent that they exceed 7.5 percent of the individual's adjusted gross income.
Child and Dependent Care Credits:
Exemption for Dependents:
A taxpayer is entitled to claim an exemption for each qualified dependent. Caretakers, such as grandparents,
aunts, or even foster parents may be entitles to this exemption. Non-custodial parents who provide the
majority of support (more that 50%) for a child with a severe learning disability may be eligible for an
exemption. This Exemption could save up to $900 in taxes.
Earned Income Tax Credit:
Families with adjusted gross income under $34,178 ($1,00 less for taxpayers filing as single or head of
household) may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) bases on the presence of one or two qualifying
children in the taxpayers home. While most children do not qualify after the age of 19 or 23 (if attending one
semester of college), parents of severely disabled children have a “qualifying child” as long as the child
lived with the parent even into adulthood.
IRS Free Booklets:
The following free booklets published by the IRS provide additional information on the topics listed above.
IRS Publication 17:
“You Federal Income Tax”
IRS Publication 502:
Medical and Dental Expense
IRS Publication 503:
Child and Dependent Care Expenses
IRS Publication 501:
Exemptions, Standard Deduction and Filing Information
IRS Publication 596:
Earned Income Tax Credit
With the mounting pressure is building on Congress to change "No Child Left Behind" (NCBL) which would weaken accountability for students with disabilities. Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP) is the measurement under NCLB in which school must show yearly progress in educational goals. Arguments and allegations are made by states, districts and schools that students with disabilities can't demonstrate proficiency on achievement tests and assessments thus jeopardizing federal funding under the No Child Left Behind.
"The two main arguments we are hearing in opposition to accountability provision for students with disabilities in No Child Left Behind are based on incorrect premises. Some of the opponents of No Child Left Behind allege that the law is not fair for students with disabilities because it expects achievement to measure by a "one size fits all" test. They also allege that the fact that these students have disabilities means that they can't ) demonstrate proficiency on assessments.
Under No Child Left Behind, students with disabilities can take regular assessments (with or without accommodations) or they can take an alternate assessment based on grade level achievement standards or alternative achievement standards. States have the flexibility to have a number of different alternative assessments and a number of different alternative achievement standards.
This is not a “One Size Fits All" situation.
In addition, the fact that a child has a disability does not mean he or she can not demonstrate grade proficiency with the appropriate accommodations or with an alternate assessment. Many students with disabilities are on diploma track and should be expected to be proficient at grade level. This is true for students without cognitive disabilities and for students whose cognitive disabilities are mild. Students with a significant cognitive disabilities are permitted to demonstrate proficiency on assessments based on an alternate achievement standard; these assessments may include "Off Level" (below grade level) test."1
1. Diana Autin-Executive Co-Director
State Wide Parent Advocacy Network
Email: diana.autin@spannj.orgWhat Parents can do to ensure that Congress does not lower the accountability standards for students with
disabilities?
Contact the following:
On our website
www.specialeducationpta.org
There is a letter which your can print , sign and send to your congress and state representatives listed below:
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Senator Frank Lautenberg
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Senator Jon Corzine
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Representative Rush Holt
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A support group for parents and guardians of special education students is sponsoring monthly morning coffees during the school year. This informal group meets monthly. For more information and meeting locations call Vivian Paulus (732) 297-4028
Meetings dates for next year are:
Tuesday, February 10
Thursday, March 11
Thursday, May 13
Newly released (March 2004) author Barbara D. Bateman has once again given parents of special needs children an essential book to read. Parents are presented in Bateman’s typical straight forward –cut to the case method of presenting to parents the easiest means of understanding information and pointing out how what “seems” to be a “good goal or objective” in an IEP is not (in actuality when accountability & measurable outcomes are applied).
Bateman and Herr present to parents a “starting place” from which a student’s IEP goals should be derived from, simple questions and “check phrases” a parent can ask in regards to
IEP goals and objectives that include percentiles and measurement as a component, and most importantly the importance of a direct relationship between the student’s present level of educational performance and the other components of the IEP.
"Writing Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives"
by Barbara D. Bateman and Cynthia M. Herr
can be order through IEP Resources Tel. (800) 651-0954 or online at www.amazon.com.
Book price approx. $25.00
But We Need Your Help!
We are requesting help from parents, relatives, and community groups to help make this day a wonderful day for the special needs children of South River and their families.
If you are interested;
Please come to the S.E.PTA meeting on April 7th 6:30-9pm at the So. River Public Library
(children are always welcome also!)
We are asking for help in
planning games and activities And other items of interest to be included on this day.
Please come and show your involvement-
We need your help to make this event a reality.
Would you like to help with our Newsletter, or Website? Have you come across an interesting book, article or website that deals with education, special ed., disabilities, or parenting? that you’d like to share with others. Write a short summary and we’ll love to put it in newsletter and web page.
Disability Services & Advocacy, LLC
For sponsoring the mailing of our Newsletters