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April 26, 2010

News for special education professionals

Curriculum & Instruction

District touts benefits of inclusion for students without disabilitiesA preschool special-education program in Springfield, Mo., is working to increase enrollment of students without special needs. The Integrated Classroom program primarily serves students with disabilities, but officials say students of all abilities benefit from playing and learning together. "It's a wonderful opportunity for those general-education peers. It's a high-quality program. They're being educated," the district's special-services director said. "Those kids are growing up in an environment where we are all the same." Springfield News-Leader (Mo.) (4/26)

Students at Brooklyn school have top scores despite disadvantagesPublic School 172 in New York City's Brooklyn borough has hired numerous specialists and offers after-school tutoring and Saturday school to ensure that its students -- many of whom come from low-income households, qualify for special education or do not speak English at home -- consistently have top scores on standardized tests. Educators at the school this year have been focusing on test preparation since February and, beginning today, students will take new state tests designed to be more comprehensive and less predictable. The school's motto, the principal says, is "teach, assess,

teach, assess." The New York Times (free registration) (4/25)

Time is running out!The first session of the month-long, all-online Social Media Success Summit 2010 is Tuesday, May 4th. Execs from GE, Kodak, AMEX, Intel, Lowes, Staples, NCR, Thomson Reuters and hundreds of growth companies have already signed up. Are you in on it?

Educational Leadership

Academic coaches used to boost student achievement in Florida districtFlorida's Pasco school district has hired dozens of academic coaches in literacy and special education to work with students and teachers and help improve student outcomes. District officials used federal stimulus money to hire the coaches, who use an approach that combines two district initiatives -- Learning Focused Strategies and Response to Intervention. "It's like all of these things are starting to line up for teachers now," said the district's director of special education. St. sburg Times (Fla.) (4/24)

Cleveland group plans new autism center for students, teachersThe Cleveland-area nonprofit Positive Education Program is planning a new center for 110 students with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. The center will also offer training for teachers who work with students who have special needs, including education students from Cleveland State University. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) (4/23)

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by CEC SmartBrief readers in the past week.

School takes inclusive approach to help students with autism flourish (The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio))

Duncan urges high expectations for students with disabilities (Disability Scoop)

Kentucky school offers alternative for struggling students (Lexington Herald-Leader (Ky.))

District helps students with special needs prepare for life after school (Springfield News-Leader (Mo.))

How can New Orleans charters best serve students with disabilities? (The Times-Picayune (New Orleans))

Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Technology Trends

MIT involves people with disabilities in design of high-tech wheelchairA robotic wheelchair that is operated by voice commands is under development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and researchers are enlisting input from people with neurological disabilities treated at a Boston residential facility to enhance the design. The wheelchair includes tracking technology that allows the facility's staff to locate residents. Based on the residents' requests, designers will also offer that

technology to users so they can find their friends in the facility. A monitor with a daily schedule of events will also be added. The Boston Globe (4/26)

New device may help doctors diagnose ADHDA device developed by an associate professor at Harvard Medical School is designed to help doctors diagnose children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. A motion tracker in the Quotient diagnostic device can detect the movements of a child with ADHD and distinguish them from those of a child without the disorder, according to its developer. The test has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but some critics say the device is an updated version of an older test shown to be unreliable and no longer commonly used. The Boston Globe (4/26)

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 lawyer is charged with operating without a license D. Deiner, who represented the families of numerous students with special needs in and around Washington, D.C., was not licensed as a lawyer for much of the time he represented those families, court records show. Deiner allegedly lost numerous cases because of poor preparation or incomplete work. Deiner -- who faces criminal charges, civil penalties and 74 misconduct charges from the D.C. bar association -- has not commented on the allegations and is still representing families during internal school hearings in Virginia, which he is legally allowed to do. The Washington Post (4/23)

Budget concerns threaten Houston respite-care centerA Houston center that provides care for children with special needs so caregivers can get a break may be forced to close because of a decrease in private donations. Stressed parents say the center, which also offers a social club for adults with disabilities, provides a much-needed service and hope it stays open. Houston Chronicle (4/26)

Use of zero-tolerance discipline is debated in North TexasCritics of zero-tolerance disciplinary policies in North Texas schools spoke out at a community forum in Dallas on Saturday. Some who attended the forum questioned the severity of the policies -- particularly in light of changes to state law -- and their disproportionate use against minority students and students who are poor or have disabilities. Some experts suggested increasing parental involvement as a way to improve on the policies. "It's going to take all of us to make the public schools what they need to be," a Dallas district official said. The Dallas Morning News (4/25)

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Eye on Exceptionalities

Special Olympics hold track and field events amid Calif. budget woesSome 650 students with special needs from schools across California's Monterey County participated in events such as running, standing long jump and shot put at a Special Olympics competition held Friday. "I trained very hard every day," said one student with autism who competed in the one-mile run. The existence of Special Olympics programs in California schools is being threatened by statewide budget shortages. The Monterey County Herald (Calif.)

(4/24)

CEC Spotlight

Plans are under way for 2011 The CEC 2010 Convention & Expo was a huge success, so be sure to save the date for CEC 2011, to be held from April 25 to 28 in National Harbor, Md., just 15 minutes from Washington, D.C. But great programming starts with you -- the call for papers ends May 28. Submit your proposal today.

Looking for qualified personnel? Specialedcareers.org, a service of CEC, is committed to connecting school systems and universities with qualified candidates to fill vital special-education job vacancies. Now through April 30, you can reach more than 4,500 monthly visitors and 65,000 CEC SmartBrief subscribers with CEC's discounted job-posting packages. Start recruiting qualified candidates today.

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