ABC’s of Special Education Law
Date: Aug 10, 2023 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Online
Member Price: $148
Non-Member Price: $185
Section Price: $139
Areas of Law: School
Earn up to 3.3 credits! (More Information)
Keynote
Moderator
- Andrew I. Meltzer, Esq.
- Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler, Princetonis an associate with Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler in Cranbury, New Jersey, where he focuses his practice in special education law and helps special needs students achieve success in school and life.
Mr. Meltzer is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. While clerking in the Education Section of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, he built up a working knowledge of the special education legal framework and the practices at the Office of Administrative Law. He also prosecuted nearly twenty trials as a Certified Legal Intern for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
Mr. Meltzer received his B.A. from the University of Delaware and his J.D. from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law.
Presenters
- Hon. Ellen S. Bass (Ret.)
- The Busch Law Group, LLC, Metuchenis Of Counsel to The Busch Law Group LLC in Metuchen, New Jersey, and has more than 40 years of experience working with public school districts. She was formerly Acting Director of the Office of Administrative Law, the Chief Administrative Law Judge, and sat in Newark, New Jersey.
Judge Bass is admitted to practice in New Jersey and before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to her appointment, she served as In-House Counsel to the South Orange Maplewood School District, and prior to that was in private practice with the Morristown firm of Rand, Algeier, Tosti and Woodruff. Judge Bass also served as In-House Counsel to the New Jersey Association of School Administrators. She has lectured to the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, school districts and other organizations, and has guest lectured at Seton Hall University’s Graduate School of Education.
Judge Bass received her undergraduate degree from Mt. Holyoke College and her law degree from Boston University School of Law. - Mariann Crincoli, Esq
- Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler, Cranburyis a Partner in Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler in Cranbury and Paramus, New Jersey, and has worked in both law firm and in in-house settings for the last 28 years. She has devoted her practice to education law matters and has represented public school districts, charter schools and parents of children with special needs. Ms. Crincoli has counseled clients in special education; student discipline; harassment, intimidation and bullying; constitutional issues; residency; employment and personnel matters; and contract matters; and for the past several years has dedicated her practice to the representation of families with special needs children and those involved in bullying matters. She previously represented mentally incapacitated persons as well as premier hospital systems in guardianship matters.
Admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Ms. Crincoli is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She frequently lectures to parent groups, lawyers and professionals on special education and bullying matters; has authored articles on special education, bullying and residential placements; and is the recipient of several honors.
Ms. Crincoli received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Seton Hall University and her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. - Hillary Freeman, Esq.
- Freeman Law Offices, LLC, Princetonis a founding Partner of Freeman Law Offices, LLC in Princeton, New Jersey. In her practice she represents clients with disabilities and their families. She has experience representing clients in special education and Section 504 issues, higher education issues including accommodations on high stakes testing, and graduate school admissions tests, guardianship matters, estate planning and adult services.
Admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Ms. Freeman is a member of the Council of Parent and Attorney Advocates ("COPAA"), Past Vice President of the Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey and a member of the Executive Board of ASCEND: Asperger & Autism Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. She is a former member of the Professional Advisory Board of the Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey and the Human Rights Committee of Quest Autism Programs. Ms. Freeman is also a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Elder and Disability Law Section, the International Dyslexia Association and COSAC/Autism New Jersey. She was the recipient of the Robin Sims Trailblazer Award in 2015 and several other honors, and has lectured for professional organizations.
Ms. Freeman received her B.S. from Ithaca College and her J.D. from Widener University School of Law. - Vittorio S. LaPira, Esq.
- Fogarty & Hara, Esqs., Fair Lawn,is a Partner in Fogarty & Hara in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, where he represents boards of education in areas including labor and employment matters, student discipline matters, special education matters and construction issues, with experience at the trial and appellate levels in both federal and state courts, as well as before the Office of Administrative Law.
Admitted to practice in New Jersey and before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Mr. LaPira is a member of the American, New Jersey State and Bergen County Bar Associations, and the New Jersey Association of School Attorneys. He has lectured on several topics for his clients and for the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the Bergen County Association of School Business Officials, the Hudson County Social Emotional and Character Development Consortium, and the Hunterdon County Superintendents’ Association. His article, “Getting Sent to the Principal’s Office: An Overview of the Legal and Procedural Issues Governing the Discipline of Students in Public Schools,” appeared in the December 2013 issue of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine.
Mr. LaPira received his B.A., cum laude, from Boston College and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Special education law is a growing and ever-changing area of law - not only in New Jersey, but throughout the country. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that is binding on states and gives children with disabilities who qualify the right to specialized education and related services. School districts have an obligation to identify children who are suspected of having a disability and who may qualify for special education programs. Eligible children have the right to a free and appropriate public education.
This seminar features some of the state’s most knowledgeable school board and child/parent special education law attorneys. They have designed a content packed agenda to guide you through the special education law matters you may be handling, and to provide you with the confidence you need to handle whatever comes your way.
In one morning, gain the best information available to set you on your way to handling special education law cases.
Learn everything you need to handle most basic special education law matters in your practice and get the best results for your clients, including:
- The law governing special education
- The players and the language –i.e., Child study team, IEP (Individualized Education Program) team, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) - The referral process
- Who has the right to make a referral?
- Timelines and school district obligations
- Role of treating providers - Evaluations
- Purpose/child find
- Evaluation planning
- School district evaluations
- Independent evaluations
- Private evaluations - Eligibility and Programming
- Classification
- The 3-prong test
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) - Student discipline under the IDEA and Section 504
- Disputes
- Challenging school district actions (due process hearings, mediation, OAL) - Attorney’s fees
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