Educational Advocacy

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Well Being Assessment questions to think about:

For Early Development ages 0 to 4:

1. Is the child currently enrolled in an early childhood program such as a preschool or daycare?

2. Have ave there been any reported behavioral problems, either at home or in preschool or daycare settings?

3. Has the child been evaluated for or received any developmental interventions?

For Education ages 5 to 17:

1. If the child/youth has changed schools in the past 6 months (other than advancing the next grade level), what is the reason why?

2. Have there been any reported attendance problems?

3. Have there been any reported behavioral problems at school?

4. How has the child/youth performed academically?

5. Has the child/youth been evaluated or received any educational interventions?

6. Has the child/youth participated in any academic support programs and/or services outside of their regular school day?

7. Has the child/youth participated in any recreational or social programs outside of their regular school day (e.g., sports, art, music, religious group)?

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General Information

• NJ DOE (Department of Education) covers many aspects of education in NJ

• NJ DOE Special Student Populations covers Students with Disabilities, Multilingual Learners and Homeless Students

• Education Law Center is a non-profit in Newark pursuing justice for public school students. Call 973-624-1815 x300 for information and referrals on educational legal issues.

Bullying

• NJ Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention is a non-profit concerned with bullying in NJ. Call 877-NJBULLY or text njbully to 66746 for get help.

• The NJ Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention website includes documents that focus on Bullying of Students with Disabilities and LGBT Students.

General Education

• Early Childhood Education is provided in the North Ward by The North Ward Center

• Grown & Flown is a website with advice on parenting teens

• Parents Foster Care & Education Flyer is a one-page flyer of unknown origin about how a parent can be involved in their child’s education decisions while the child is in DCP&P custody

• Frequently Used Terminology in NJ State Systems is a 13-page handout from a 2021 Rutgers UBHC class on “Transition to Adulthood: A Self-Directed Approach” web-based presentation.

• Newark Enrolls is the Newark website to enroll a child in school. it includes High Schools, Elementary Schools, Charter Schools, Magnet Schools, Specialized Schools and Specialized High Schools

Post-High School

• NJ G.E.A.R. U.P. is a NJ state program for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs targeting 7th to 12th graders with the goal of increasing the number of low-income students in post-secondary education.

• NJIT College Bound Program is an NJ GEAR UP program sponsored by NJIT as a program for middle, high school and college freshmen

• YES MISS INC - empowers young women 14-21 in Northern Jersey for college and career readiness.

• Job Corps Info Session - 40-minute video info session given by Jordan Wood, Admission Counselor at Edison Job Corps program in 2023 to CASA staff and advocates

• Pathways to Academic and Career Exploration to Success (PACES) (March 2023) - 30-minute video given by Frances Anyanwu of PACES in 2023 to CASA Essex staff and advocates

Special Education

• The Arc of New Jersey connects children with IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) to appropriate state services. They also have a Guides and Fact Sheets page with more information.

• NJ DOE Special Education Protections is described on the OSE (Office of Special Education) page

• Better IEPs: Three Types of School Supports to Help Students with Mental Health Conditions is a 2022 article on the Common Ground website. NJcommondGround.org works to increase the dialog among stakeholders in the NJ special education system.

• A Basic Guide to Special Education 2025 Edition by the KidLaw Resource Center has information about the laws regarding children who have disabilities that affect their ability to learn published by the Advocates for Children of New Jersey.

CASA Educational Advocacy Training

• Training Manual - 159-page pdf CASA Educational Advocacy Training Program Volunteer Manual by CASA NJ

Also check the School page under Youth Resources.