Mercer County Goverment: Commissioners Pass Resolution Supporting The Expansion Of A Free Public Education Beyond The Age Of 21 For Stud ...

Press release from the Mercer County Government:

03/31/2021 12:47 PM

Commissioners Pass Resolution Supporting the Expansion of a Free Public Education Beyond theAge of 21 for Students with an Individualized Educational Plan

TRENTON – Last week the Mercer County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting Senate Bill 3434 and Assembly Bill 5366 which protects students with disabilities from losing much-needed services due to COVID-19 by temporarily extending age eligibility. 

Currently, students that have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) have their educational services terminate in the school year in which they turn 21. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and other pandemic-related health concerns, these programs have been severely restricted, offering limited resources for students in in-person settings.

If enacted Senate Bill 3434 and Assembly Bill 5366 would:

“Parents are doing an incredible job assisting in online education but nothing takes the place of a certified teacher and other professionals providing education, socialization, and skill training in the classroom or community setting while the student is surrounded and supported by their peers. For those students who are 21 or about to turn 21, these services are imperative to transition,” said Commissioner Lucy Walter. “Simply put this legislation gives students a do-over year of in-person education and services before they age out of the system.”

Certified copies of the approved resolution have been sent to Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and the legislators that represent Mercer County, urging them to act quickly on this piece of legislation.

This press release was produced by the Mercer County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.