Special Education Innovation Award Goes to Washington Twp. Schools

The Washington Township School district was recognized this month for its innovative approach to engaging autistic students in communication.

Named Robo Kids, the program was one of nine in the state to receive recognition from the New Jersey School Boards Association for the Innovations in Special Education Awards.

Robo Kids provides a “hands-on learning experience to tap into children’s creative thinking, scientific inquiry, and problem-solving skills, while brining fun and purpose to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education,” according to a statement from New Jersey School Boards Association.

The students become engineers through exploration, the statement said, as they used gears, levers, motors, sensors, and programming loops. The students also create robots that move in response to the environment.

Forty-seven districts across the state were nominated for the Innovation awards with nine receiving the honor. Washington Township was joined by Whippany Park High School, another award recipient, as schools from Morris County that won.

Governor Chris Christie proclaimed the week of May 11 to 17 as Special Education Week in New Jersey.