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The BRIDGE Initiative 
Helping Families and Schools Work Together

ABOUT THE BRIDGE INITIATIVE

Engagement of Parents of Students with Disabilities

The Building Resources for Inclusive Development and Growth in Education (BRIDGE) Initiative is a new partnership between Rutgers University and the NJ Department of Education Office of Special Education. It promotes strong partnerships between families and schools to help students with disabilities make steady progress towards their learning goals. The BRIDGE Initiative's work is centered around:

There are many resources about special education and family engagement, but it can be hard to know what you need, what to trust, and how to use it. BRIDGE brings the best materials together in one place. Our team curates, creates, and organizes high-quality resources so you can easily find what works and get support in putting it to practice.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join us for upcoming webinars, workshops, and learning opportunities. BRIDGE events bring together families, educators, and district leaders to share strategies, build connections, and strengthen support for students across New Jersey.

Feb 24, 2026

From Framework to Front Door: Connecting Families with NJTSS

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Feb 25, 2026

SEPAG Leaders: Connect, Share, and Grow!

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Mar 19, 2026

Partnering with Families Around Foundational Reading in Grades 4+

FEATURED RESOURCES

Explore guides, toolkits, and strategies designed to support families and educators. Our resources provide practical information on special education, SEPAGs, literacy, NJTSS, and family engagement that you can use right away.

SEPAG meeting with adults seated at tables in a classroom, listening to a speaker.

One-Pagers

General SEPAG Informational Materials

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Templates

SEPAG District Outreach: Grow Membership

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Guide

SEPAG Development Parent Starter Kit

FROM THE BLOG

SEPAGs

The Power of Partnership: Why SEPAGs Matter in Special Education

NJTSS | A Guide for Parents

How NJ Schools Support Students: What Parents Need to Know About the NJTSS

Literacy

There’s a Science to Reading. Here's What Parents Need to Know

Literacy

Raising Readers: How New Research Can Help At Home

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The BRIDGE Initiative is funded by the NJ Department of Education Office of Special Education (Engagement of Parents of Students with Disabilities; Grant #26000007) through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA-B; 84.027A).

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Copyright 2025 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

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