The BRIDGE Initiative
Helping Families and Schools Work Together
New: The BRIDGE Portal is now available in early release - check it out here!
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 four areas:
SEPAG Development,
Improvement, and Sustainability
Shared Decision-Making
around IEPs and Inclusion
Family and School
Literacy Partnerships
NJTSS Understanding
and Home Support
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.
The BRIDGE Initiative Supports You
The BRIDGE Portal is an online library of videos, guides, activities, and events with an AI assistant to help you find what you need and use what you learn. The portal houses high-quality materials designed for a variety of audiences around meaningful parent engagement.
Clear, reliable guidance and materials to help you feel confident as a partner in your child’s education.
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Simple, easy-to-understand information and videos to help understand supports available to your child
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Tools and resources to prepare you to be an active partner in your child's education and make informed decisions
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Activities, tips, and kits with everything you need to support learning outside of school
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Live webinars and online training modules you can access anytime, from anywhere, all completely free
Featured Opportunities
District Partnerships
SEPAG Development & Improvement
The BRIDGE Initiative is seeking districts ready to develop, improve, and sustain their SEPAGs. Partners receive no-cost, comprehensive support, tailored resources, and more! We work directly with parents and district liaisons to build membership, enhance parent leadership, and establish sustainable communication.
Interested? Let us know and we'll be in touch.
School Partnerships
Family-Engaged Literacy Programs
The BRIDGE Initiative is looking for school partners to collaborate on family-engaged literacy development. With each school, we'll set priorities, provide professional development, and make connections to home engagement. Then, we'll work together to develop a family-friendly Literacy Factsheet, explore how screening results are shared, hold family literacy events, or other locally relevant activities.
Reach out for more information!
Individual Collaborators
Parent Engagement Working Group
The BRIDGE Initiative is inviting parents/caregivers, educators, and other community members to join our statewide network on the engagement of parents of students with disabilities. Members will get early access to BRIDGE tools, trainings, and materials to test and review before public release. We value feedback on content, accessibility, and relevance to ensure resources meet real needs in communities.
Make your voice heard! Sign up below.
Join the Mailing List!
The BRIDGE Portal is currently under development, and new resources and trainings are being created now. Things are moving quickly, and opportunities to get involved will be available soon!
Join our mailing list to stay connected with The BRIDGE Initiative. You’ll be the first to know when new materials are released, events are announced, and the BRIDGE Portal goes live.
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).