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:

SEPAG Development,
Improvement, and Sustainability

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.

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.

See All Events

OUR MAJOR FOCUS AREAS

SEPAG Development, Growth, and Sustainability

Special Education Parent Advisory Groups (SEPAGs) facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and input between families and school districts on matters affecting students with disabilities. The BRIDGE Initiative supports both district and parent leaders and makes free resources available online.

QUICK ACCESS

Join Our Mailing List

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Book a SEPAG Office Hour

See Upcoming Events

Access Free Resources

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.

Resource Library

A man wearing headphones, smiling, sitting at a desk with an open laptop and a pen in his hand.

Webinar

Supporting SEPAGs: Practical Guidance for District Leaders

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

One-Pager

What is a SEPAG?

A graphic of a map, one area marked "you are here", and lines moving from there to a red planted flag.

Guide

SEPAG Development Parent Starter Kit

FROM THE BLOG

Literacy

Making Reading Time Count:
How to Choose the Right Book

Mental Health

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: Moving from Awareness to Action

Special Education

Meaningful Supports for Students with ASD

SEPAGs

Understanding SEPAGs: A Simple Guide for Parents and Communities

FEATURED OPPORTUNITIES

For SEPAGs: Direct Support & Training

The BRIDGE Initiative provides assistance to parent and district-affiliated SEPAG leaders including leadership training, meeting planning and facilitation, resource development, and strategies for growing membership. We also work to cultivate and support parent leadership opportunities within groups.

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).

Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to direct suggestions, comments, or complaints concerning any accessibility issues with Rutgers websites to accessibility@rutgers.edu or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier / Provide Feedback Form.

The BRIDGE Initiative Helping Families and Schools Work Together