Highlight your school’s exemplary programs and services for students with special needs by entering the 2021 Innovations in Special Education Award program.

If you have a successful, groundbreaking program that has been in place for at least one school year, we want to hear about it.  The program is part of Special Education Week 2021 in New Jersey, sponsored by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and ASAH, which has served the private special education community since 1974.

Since it began in 2002, the Innovations program has drawn wide interest from the state’s special education community.  In 2019*, the program drew 49 entries from public school districts and private schools for the disabled. Four of the entries were honored during a luncheon reception, held in conjunction with Special Education Week.

Learn more about the 2019 winners here.

NEW SUBMISSION PROCEDURE FOR 2021

Please complete the entry form linked below and submit it to a Google Documents platform. Entries must be submitted electronically and are limited to the entry form only. Please provide a detailed, specific description of the program in the space provided on the form. Supplemental information such as photos, brochures, news articles, etc., will not be accepted. Hard copy entries will not be accepted.

Click on the “Submission Form” link below to enter the 2021 program. Entries must be received by 4:30 p.m., March 31, 2021.

For further information about the Annual Special Education Award program, contact Ann Marie Smith of the NJSBA Executive Office at (609) 278-5209.

Selected programs will be honored during a virtual event held in conjunction with Special Education Week in New Jersey in May.

* The Innovations is Special Education Award program was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Entries submitted for the 2020 award will be automatically entered for consideration in 2021.  Submitters of the 2020 entries will be notified confirmation of their submission for last year. If you wish to update your submission from 2020 in any way, you must re-enter with a new entry form for 2021. If you re-submit for 2021, please indicate that on the “program title” line on your entry form.