GRANT

Advocates for Special Kids Wins Grant - The Lawrence District Advocates for Special Kids (ASK) PTO has been selected to receive a grant from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities through its Positioning Parent Organizations for Including Special Education (PPOISE) program. The Council received over one hundred applications and selected the nine best projects for funding. Projects selected represented exceptional models for inclusion of regular education programs with special education. 

Robin Rapport, Co-Chair of ASK, author of the grant proposal, reports that the grant will be used to establish a family-based program that deals with social issues of young teens. ASK will work with all PTOs in the district to assure that all students in the district (special ed and regular ed) can be included and benefit from the program.

The program will be structured so that the entire family can participate in a series of workshops, geared to the needs of teenaged students. The Youth program combines elements of an after-school enrichment program, youth group, social skills group, dance group and etiquette class, while offering educational opportunities. While the young teens participate in the Youth group, there will be Parenting Workshops for the adults focusing on the needs of their children, as well as child care for the younger family members.

It is anticipated that the program will be open to families of seventh through ninth graders in the Lawrence District and will begin in the winter of 2006-2007. Keep on the lookout for further announcements, check back here and contact Robin Rapport at if you want to receive further information or  be considered for the program. 

To view a PDF of the 2006 PPOISE Proposal, click here.