Rutgers CESP Awarded $1.2 Million from NJDOE for The BRIDGE Initiative
NEW BRUNSWICK – The New Jersey Department of Education has awarded a new grant to Rutgers University’s Center for Effective School Practices (CESP) to fund The BRIDGE Initiative: Building Resources for Inclusive Development and Growth in Education, a project dedicated to improving inclusive education by fostering meaningful family engagement statewide.
Despite major advancements in curriculum and education in New Jersey, significant gaps remain in effectively engaging parents and caregivers in the education of their children with disabilities. Research demonstrates that meaningful parent and caregiver engagement improves academic achievement, positive behavioral outcomes, and successful inclusion.
Recognizing parents and caregivers as powerful partners, CESP will deliver a comprehensive suite of accessible and relevant resources related to parent/caregiver engagement. This grant will allow CESP to curate and enhance current resources to better support the diverse needs of students, districts, parents, and teachers, ensuring that all materials are both accessible and actionable. The BRIDGE Initiative will draw on evidence-based practices and their decades of expertise in technical assistance and professional learning to foster lasting change through the provision of technical assistance to parents and educators.
The BRIDGE initiative will also work alongside schools to improve literacy instruction, as well as increase the number of operating and effective Special Education Parent Advisory Groups (or SEPAGs) statewide.
“This initiative represents a crucial step forward in building meaningful partnerships between schools and families,” said Vivian Allen, the associate director of Rutgers CESP. “By focusing on inclusive practices and family engagement, we can create stronger educational outcomes for all students with disabilities.”
For more information about Rutgers CESP and its work to promote inclusive and equitable education, visit cesp.rutgers.edu to stay updated on BRIDGE and other initiatives.
For further reading, check out Rutgers CESP announcement of the grant.