The New Jersey School Boards Association will honor five innovative programs during Special Education Week, May 11-17, 2025.

As part of the celebration of Special Education Week, the NJSBA and ASAH, since 2002, have sponsored an “Innovations in Special Education” award program that has drawn wide interest from the state’s special education community. For this year’s awards program, public and private schools from across New Jersey submitted 23 eligible entries.

The NJSBA and ASAH will recognize the programs designated for honors during a video presentation held in conjunction with Special Education Week. ASAH has been serving the special education community since 1974.

During the broadcast, NJSBA and ASAH leadership will recognize the following programs:

Center for Education

The Center for Agriculture
Exemplary Program

The Center for Education’s Agricultural Training Program is designed for adolescents with special needs and learning disabilities who thrive in non-traditional learning environments. When conventional classroom instruction reaches its limits—often leading to frustration or behavioral challenges—the Center’s farm provides an alternative, engaging, and hands-on approach to education that fosters growth, confidence, and skill-building.

Lebanon Township School District

Caught Being Kind
Recognized Program

Lebanon Township’s Caught Being Kind program has been a cornerstone of the district’s culture for over three years, fostering an environment where kindness, inclusion, and positive reinforcement thrive. The initiative calls for teachers and administrators to actively recognize students for random acts of kindness, reinforcing the importance of empathy and compassion.

South Bergen Jointure Commission

Yoga and Mindfulness
Recognized Program

This initiative aims to provide neurodivergent students with practical tools for enhanced mind and body awareness, fostering improved balance, stability, and emotional well-being. By emphasizing self-regulation skills, the program empowers students to effectively manage their emotions and behaviors.

The winning entries will also be recognized by the New Jersey State Special Education Advisory Council at a meeting in June.

For more information on the annual Innovations in Special Education award, email Ann Marie Smith at amsmith@njsba.org.