Fw: How will students with special needs be assessed under Fla. bill?

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April 13, 2010

News for special education professionals

Curriculum & Instruction

Author: Why RTI is the "last, best hope" for teaching literacyEarly-literacy expert and author Allington explains in this interview why he believes response to intervention is "our last, best hope" for teaching all students to read. Allington, a University of Tennessee education professor, suggests that students need the help of skilled and expert educators who can provide intensive, individualized reading instruction and assessments to students while they are in kindergarten and first grade and

before they are considered for special education. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (4/12)

Some NYC schools are launching new special-education programsEight schools in New York City's Staten Island borough will be among 260 in the city to pilot programs for teaching students with special needs. One Staten Island school will also create two inclusive classes for children with Asperger's syndrome. The initiative -- to be rolled out to all borough schools after the first year -- will emphasize creative approaches to teaching students literacy and behavior and focus on individual students' long-term plans for life beyond graduation. Staten Island Advance (N.Y.) (4/13)

Other News

Mississippi cites 8 districts over their special-education practicesThe Clarion-Ledger (, Miss.) (4/11)

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Educational Leadership

How will students with special needs be assessed under Fla. bill?A special-education teacher in Florida says she wonders how the state's merit-pay bill awaiting Gov. Charlie Crist's signature or veto will measure her students' achievement. Liza , who teaches third-graders with special needs, calls the bill "a horrible, horrible detriment to education." , who has lobbied lawmakers to oppose the legislation, says it will result in more narrowly focused education, less collaboration among teachers and an unpleasant school environment for educators and students. St. sburg Times (Fla.) (4/13) , The Palm Beach Post (Fla.) (4/13)

Colorado lawmakers to consider teacher-tenure reformsA bill to reform the teacher-tenure system in Colorado has been introduced in the state legislature. Provisions of the bill include basing 50% of teacher evaluations on students' academic growth and granting tenure to teachers after three years of being designated as "highly effective" -- a label also tied to student achievement. The head of the Colorado Education Association, which represents 40,000 educators, said the union opposes the bill and warned that it is "too much, too fast." The

Denver Post (4/13)

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Technology Trends

Some Ohio districts use stimulus funds for assistive technologyA number of central Ohio school districts are bucking the trend to plug budget holes with stimulus money meant for special education and are using some funding to purchase technology for students with disabilities. One district used the funds for wheelchair-accessible playground equipment and a specialized school bus, while another purchased listening systems for students with hearing impairments and specialized software for students struggling to learn spelling and grammar. The

Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) (4/12)

Educators in Toronto see iPad as tool for students with special needsEducators in Toronto are looking forward to the release of Apple's iPad there at the end of April, hoping to add the device to the collection of classroom tools to help students with autism and other special needs. Six teachers at a Toronto school are using iPod Touch devices with students who have developmental disabilities as part of a University of Toronto study, and one teacher says the devices help reduce students' anxiety and aid in smoother transitions between classroom activities. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (4/12)

Response to Intervention Series (RTIS)We at the Conover Company are proud to introduce a new series of assessments to address response to intervention or training targeted at students with significant disabilities. Click here for more information.

Policy News

Special education is targeted for cuts in Arizona districtOfficials in Arizona's Gilbert district are hoping to help close a budget deficit estimated to be at least $4 million by making about $1.7 million in cuts to special-education programs and staff. Among the proposed changes are: the use of inclusive classrooms for high-school students with special needs; the creation of a special-education program at a junior high school that would bring 24 students back into the district from private schools; and a reduction in the hours of many special-education and resource aides. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) (4/10)

Michigan school district allows service dog as part of compromiseOfficials in a Michigan school district have agreed to allow a 6-year-old student with cerebral palsy to bring her service dog to school during a 30-day trial period, according to an attorney for the girl's family. The parents of Ehlena Fry accused school officials in another school district of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by prohibiting her from bringing the dog to school. Officials said they could meet her needs by providing a full-time aide. The decision by a neighboring district to allow the dog is a compromise between the parents and two districts. The Citizen Patriot (Mich.) (4/12)

Eye on Exceptionalities

Actress with Down syndrome is set to reprise role on Fox's "Glee"Two upcoming episodes of the Fox television show "Glee" are set to feature a character who has Down syndrome, and the actress who plays that character talks about her role in this interview. Potter, who has Down syndrome, attends a life-skills program in addition to acting and calls the inclusion of a character with Down syndrome on the hit show "a brilliant idea." Disability Scoop (4/12)

CEC award winner works on behalf of others with special needsNorth Dakota high-school sophomore AJ Marx, who has cerebral palsy, is one of CEC's Yes I Can! award winners for 2010. Marx was nominated in the self-advocacy category by teacher Missy Wood, who wanted to recognize his hard work and efforts to advocate on behalf of others with disabilities. "I worked with AJ for three years, and I was able to see him work harder than I've ever seen any kid work," she said. The Bismarck Tribune (N.D.) (4/12)

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CEC Spotlight

What's new in the field of behavioral disorders? "Behavioral Disorders" is a researched-based journal published quarterly by the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders, a division of CEC. It is a benefit of CCBD membership but can be ordered separately. Purchase your copy today by calling , ext. 296. Find out more.

Multicultural Institute to address education needs of students from diverse populations New this year, CEC is proud to offer a daylong Multicultural Institute on April 21 that will explore topics related to the education of students with exceptionalities from culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Led by Alba Ortiz of the University of Texas at Austin and Donna Ford of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., this institute will present successful strategies for addressing disproportionate representation -- both overrepresentation and underrepresentation -- in schools. It's not too late to register.

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