DECEMBER 2024

The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.  B.B. King

Now Open!  Register for the upcoming enrollment information sessions scheduled for December 10th.  Learn more here.

New! updated resources to the Class Resources page

Just & Inclusive Schools

• Did you know that United Nations has engaged in more than 50 years of advocacy to advance equity and inclusion of people with disabilities?  December 3, 2024, is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  This year’s event looks forward to the 2030 strategic plan and will issue a global call to action to "Amplify the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future."  Learn more about the IDPD and the work happening globally to advance equity and inclusion at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.   

• World Kindness Day was November 13^th.  Kindness is the foundation of just and inclusive schools. Celebrate kindness all year! 
  • World Kindness
  • Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
  • Inspire Kindness

• The U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance encouraging states, districts, and schools to develop policy that guides personal device use in schools.    Planning Together: A Playbook for Student Personal Device Policies is published through the Office of Educational Technology and reflects the White House fact sheet on Youth Mental Health, Safety, and Privacy Online  published in May 2023 and the accompanying U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health

• Annually, New Jersey schools serve more than 8,000 students of military connected families.  Check out the new NJ DOE website page dedicated to resources for military connected families with students receiving special education services,  including the new guidance document ‘Guidance for Military Connected Families with Students in Special Education’.

• Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Supportive Learning Environments.  Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) (Released November 2024)

• Equal Access to Elementary and Secondary Education for Students Who are English Learners with Disabilities.  Office of Civil Rights (Released November 2024)

NJ PBSIS Peer to Peer Resource Sharing
Thank you to Clifton Public Schools and Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center for sharing your innovations with us!

•  District -Wide Ticket:  Are you a district person who travels school to school?  Looking for a streamlined way to participate in school-level incentive systems?  Check out Clifton Public Schools District Ticket and Video explaining how the ticket is used.

•  Gratitude Turkey:  Staff at Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center asked staff, families and children to share something they feel grateful.  Gratitude sentiments were written on feathers and combined for a turkey display. View the picture here.

2024-2025 Conferences Posted

Looking to attend a conference this school year?  Visit the upcoming events page for MTSS related conferences happening in New Jersey and across the country this school year.