Alicia’s law passed
I want to Share Some Good Stuff this week pertaining to graduations. For the last few weeks around the country schools have held their graduations. As covered in the Daily Record, recently Governor Corzine( of NJ, where I live) passed Alicia’s Law (S.442), making it effective immediately. Alicia’s Law, for those unfamiliar, states that special education students have the right to participate in graduation ceremonies with their classmates even though they may not have yet completed high school. This law stems from attention given to the story of a Hanover Park student named Alicia Vitiello from Northern New Jersey. Special ed students are entitled to education until age 21. Although their daughter would not yet be graduating, Alicia’s parents wanted their daughter to be able to walk with the students she’d gone to school with for as many as twelve years at the graduation ceremony. The state had recommended Alicia be allowed to walk but her school district denied the request. The story got lots of attention here in Jersey and across the country in 2006-07. A member of the President Bush’s staff at the White House even made his support known. In 2007 Alicia was allowed to walk with her classmates. Now, other students will have the opportunity if they choose. Thanks to Governor Corzine, the NJ Department of Education and all of the legislators, advocates and families who fought for this. Our children deserve the right to have this memory.
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