Written by: Marry Ann Cahill
NJCEC Policy and Advocacy Team Advances into 2021
Our NJCEC Policy and Advocacy team has continued to grow while building upon the work we began during this summer’s Special Education Legislative Summit (SELS) to establish relationships with our New Jersey elected officials to gain support for funding and public policy for students with exceptionalities. Our efforts continue to focus on these main areas:
- IDEA funding
- COVID-19 funding for education
- Mental health of students
- Shortage of special education teachers
- Racial injustice in education
Since SELS we have continued to develop and build upon our efforts by establishing a database of information related to education and student mental health. This database includes lists of all of our federal and state elected officials who are being invited to meet with us. We have been fortunate to present our information and have conversations with the following members of Congress and/or their staff:
- Congressman Donald Payne
- Congressman Donald Norcross
- Senator Cory Booker
- Congressman Josh Gottheimer
- Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman
- Congressman Malinowski
- Congressman Sires
We are planning to kick off 2021 by meeting with the following elected federal and state officials and/or their staff:
- Senator Menendez
- Congresswoman Mik Sherrill
- State Senator Steven Oroho
- Assemblyman Parker Space
- Assemblyman Harold “Hal” Wirths
We are tremendously grateful for the successes we have achieved during 2020. These include the support of Congressman Malinowski and Congressman Sires who have joined us in our efforts by cosponsoring the Supporting Children with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act. Our team is continuing to monitor developments in proposed legislation for the fiscal year 2021 so that we may revise our “asks” in the quick-changing political landscape.
If you would like to share your experiences in education in order to put a personal touch on governmental decision-making processes, please contact our team by sending an email to Mary Ann Cahill at NJCECadvocacy@gmail.com. We welcome all members of the NJCEC to join our spirited group to amplify our messages to support students with exceptionalities. No
experience or specific interest in politics is necessary….just a willingness to do what is best for our students.
EDUCATE...MOTIVATE...ADVOCATE