Initially published in 2004, New Jersey’s Autism Program Quality Indicators (NJ APQI) was updated this year in response to new data and research discoveries over the past two decades. This revised guide aims to improve the quality of programs offered to students with autism. The APQI-R provides guidance regarding early childhood education, elementary school education, and 6th-12th grade education.
The NJ APQI-R
With the new developments in the identification and education of students with ASD, the new APQI-R replaces a previous version New Jersey Autism Program Quality Indicators: A Self-Review of Quality Improvement Guide for Programs Servicing Youth Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The purpose of the revised document was to:
- Replace older versions of the NJ APQI;
- Assist school-based practitioners in the field of education, including schools and other educational settings;
- Establish a framework that can be replicated in general education to promote more inclusive opportunities and ensure least restrictive environment (LRE);
- Identify and promote the use of evidence-based practices for effective programming and instruction for students with ASD; and,
- Promote non-biased considerations for economically disadvantaged children, children who are diverse in race and ethnicity, and children who speak a language other than English
