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Hello Liz,Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.Thank youAnd I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.Sent from my iPhone

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist >Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS

press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

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Hello Liz,Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.Thank youAnd I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.Sent from my iPhone

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist >Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS

press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

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This email was sent to denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net by vandabfddc (DOT) org.

Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeâ„¢ | Privacy Policy.

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http://www.education.ucsb.edu/jimerson/retention/CSP_RetentionSynthesis2001.pdfGoogle can provide more info but grade retention is not an empirically supported intervention. You will never find a psychologist who will tell you that the research shows that retaining a child is best. Many believe that more of the same is not what a student falling behind needs. We need to ask why did the child fall behind? In some parents view, the disabled student needs a different program/methodology and higher expectations. We need to look at the teaching methods/programs and not just blame the child for falling behind. Retention may be seen as an easy way out for schools rather than solving the real problem.I don't think parents want to rush their child (children) through elementary school. I

believe many parents have researched the issue and believe they are doing what is best for their child. Simply accepting a teacher's recommendation is not always a choice parents want to make, although they may take it into consideration. I've never met parents who research and study more about their childrens well being than those of disabled children. Subject: Retention and parent conferencesTo: sList Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010, 9:51 AM

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with

disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

Forward email

This email was sent to denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net by vandabfddc (DOT) org.

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Posted
Posted

http://www.education.ucsb.edu/jimerson/retention/CSP_RetentionSynthesis2001.pdfGoogle can provide more info but grade retention is not an empirically supported intervention. You will never find a psychologist who will tell you that the research shows that retaining a child is best. Many believe that more of the same is not what a student falling behind needs. We need to ask why did the child fall behind? In some parents view, the disabled student needs a different program/methodology and higher expectations. We need to look at the teaching methods/programs and not just blame the child for falling behind. Retention may be seen as an easy way out for schools rather than solving the real problem.I don't think parents want to rush their child (children) through elementary school. I

believe many parents have researched the issue and believe they are doing what is best for their child. Simply accepting a teacher's recommendation is not always a choice parents want to make, although they may take it into consideration. I've never met parents who research and study more about their childrens well being than those of disabled children. Subject: Retention and parent conferencesTo: sList Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010, 9:51 AM

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with

disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

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http://www.education.ucsb.edu/jimerson/retention/CSP_RetentionSynthesis2001.pdfGoogle can provide more info but grade retention is not an empirically supported intervention. You will never find a psychologist who will tell you that the research shows that retaining a child is best. Many believe that more of the same is not what a student falling behind needs. We need to ask why did the child fall behind? In some parents view, the disabled student needs a different program/methodology and higher expectations. We need to look at the teaching methods/programs and not just blame the child for falling behind. Retention may be seen as an easy way out for schools rather than solving the real problem.I don't think parents want to rush their child (children) through elementary school. I

believe many parents have researched the issue and believe they are doing what is best for their child. Simply accepting a teacher's recommendation is not always a choice parents want to make, although they may take it into consideration. I've never met parents who research and study more about their childrens well being than those of disabled children. Subject: Retention and parent conferencesTo: sList Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010, 9:51 AM

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with

disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

Forward email

This email was sent to denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net by vandabfddc (DOT) org.

Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeâ„¢ | Privacy Policy.

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Gabi and others,

Let me ask everyone here : If I was your kid's ( grandkid's, nephew, friend etc) teacher, what would you ask me? What would you say to me?

In my previous postings maybe a year ago or more, I said several times that one can expect several of the list members here to be nurses, doctors, laywers, teachers, principals, ESE specialists, OTs, behavior specialists, counselors, cluster teachers and also at the same time be parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, godparents, siblings and friends of kids with autism. This is possible, right? It is also possible to have one gen ed kid and one with autism, right? So, it is OK to compare a cluster to a gen ed room, and see the difference. Do we like what we see? Are gen ed teachers held to a higher standard? Are cluster teachers less accountable? What is my role as a parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle or advocate? What can I do now to make things better for my kid. What is within my power, and when am I banging my head against the wall? What can I change being outside the school system?

Many of us became attracted to our profession and chose a career that is related to ASD because autism had come into our lives. Some grew up with autism. One of the list members here has an older sister with autism. She just did not know it as a kid. She thought that everybody's older sisters were like her sister. It is very possible to work for an organization that provides services for children with ASD and be happy. I have done this for many, many years now. It has enriched my life, made me a better person and helped me in absolutely all aspects of my personal and professional life. I have met, and continue to meet, the most interesting, beautiful and caring people because of my involvement with ASD. Many of them read these postings every day :)

I meet people every day who don't know much about autism. I advocate for spectrum kids day and night, at work, at airports, in restaurants and in bars.

This list is uplifting because it provides me with great opporunities to change things. I am finally e-mailing Christ, and I have a better understanding of what the issues really are. Often times, it really takes a village or a county.

When I said that I accept private e-mails with fake names, it was because I respect people's need for privacy and because it prevents gossip. Some may be more vulnerable than others because they hold certain positions in our community. Members who are "rich and famous" or well-known often times do not want to expose themselves or their families. They still have questions and need help. This is why I said that it is not about who is who in the community. My posting was about the kids and their progress at school.

So, what are the big issues? What is it that retention cannot help? Let's talk about the strategies and why they are not working? Lots of educators and coaches are reading this. Let's talk about it. How do we get to the bottom of this? How can we help each other?

Information is empowering and can change the way we do things. When we change the way we do things, things will change.

Thanks for all feedback privately and here. It is highly appreciated.

Liz

To: "sList " <sList >Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 1:05:59 PMSubject: Re: Retention and parent conferences

Hello Liz,

Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?

I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.

Thank you

And I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 5, 2010, at 9:51 AM, Lizzie Berg <floridalizzie@ yahoo.com> wrote:

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press

releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

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Gabi and others,

Let me ask everyone here : If I was your kid's ( grandkid's, nephew, friend etc) teacher, what would you ask me? What would you say to me?

In my previous postings maybe a year ago or more, I said several times that one can expect several of the list members here to be nurses, doctors, laywers, teachers, principals, ESE specialists, OTs, behavior specialists, counselors, cluster teachers and also at the same time be parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, godparents, siblings and friends of kids with autism. This is possible, right? It is also possible to have one gen ed kid and one with autism, right? So, it is OK to compare a cluster to a gen ed room, and see the difference. Do we like what we see? Are gen ed teachers held to a higher standard? Are cluster teachers less accountable? What is my role as a parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle or advocate? What can I do now to make things better for my kid. What is within my power, and when am I banging my head against the wall? What can I change being outside the school system?

Many of us became attracted to our profession and chose a career that is related to ASD because autism had come into our lives. Some grew up with autism. One of the list members here has an older sister with autism. She just did not know it as a kid. She thought that everybody's older sisters were like her sister. It is very possible to work for an organization that provides services for children with ASD and be happy. I have done this for many, many years now. It has enriched my life, made me a better person and helped me in absolutely all aspects of my personal and professional life. I have met, and continue to meet, the most interesting, beautiful and caring people because of my involvement with ASD. Many of them read these postings every day :)

I meet people every day who don't know much about autism. I advocate for spectrum kids day and night, at work, at airports, in restaurants and in bars.

This list is uplifting because it provides me with great opporunities to change things. I am finally e-mailing Christ, and I have a better understanding of what the issues really are. Often times, it really takes a village or a county.

When I said that I accept private e-mails with fake names, it was because I respect people's need for privacy and because it prevents gossip. Some may be more vulnerable than others because they hold certain positions in our community. Members who are "rich and famous" or well-known often times do not want to expose themselves or their families. They still have questions and need help. This is why I said that it is not about who is who in the community. My posting was about the kids and their progress at school.

So, what are the big issues? What is it that retention cannot help? Let's talk about the strategies and why they are not working? Lots of educators and coaches are reading this. Let's talk about it. How do we get to the bottom of this? How can we help each other?

Information is empowering and can change the way we do things. When we change the way we do things, things will change.

Thanks for all feedback privately and here. It is highly appreciated.

Liz

To: "sList " <sList >Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 1:05:59 PMSubject: Re: Retention and parent conferences

Hello Liz,

Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?

I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.

Thank you

And I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 5, 2010, at 9:51 AM, Lizzie Berg <floridalizzie@ yahoo.com> wrote:

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press

releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

Forward email

This email was sent to denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net by vandabfddc (DOT) org.

Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeâ„¢ | Privacy Policy.

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Posted
Posted

Gabi and others,

Let me ask everyone here : If I was your kid's ( grandkid's, nephew, friend etc) teacher, what would you ask me? What would you say to me?

In my previous postings maybe a year ago or more, I said several times that one can expect several of the list members here to be nurses, doctors, laywers, teachers, principals, ESE specialists, OTs, behavior specialists, counselors, cluster teachers and also at the same time be parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, godparents, siblings and friends of kids with autism. This is possible, right? It is also possible to have one gen ed kid and one with autism, right? So, it is OK to compare a cluster to a gen ed room, and see the difference. Do we like what we see? Are gen ed teachers held to a higher standard? Are cluster teachers less accountable? What is my role as a parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle or advocate? What can I do now to make things better for my kid. What is within my power, and when am I banging my head against the wall? What can I change being outside the school system?

Many of us became attracted to our profession and chose a career that is related to ASD because autism had come into our lives. Some grew up with autism. One of the list members here has an older sister with autism. She just did not know it as a kid. She thought that everybody's older sisters were like her sister. It is very possible to work for an organization that provides services for children with ASD and be happy. I have done this for many, many years now. It has enriched my life, made me a better person and helped me in absolutely all aspects of my personal and professional life. I have met, and continue to meet, the most interesting, beautiful and caring people because of my involvement with ASD. Many of them read these postings every day :)

I meet people every day who don't know much about autism. I advocate for spectrum kids day and night, at work, at airports, in restaurants and in bars.

This list is uplifting because it provides me with great opporunities to change things. I am finally e-mailing Christ, and I have a better understanding of what the issues really are. Often times, it really takes a village or a county.

When I said that I accept private e-mails with fake names, it was because I respect people's need for privacy and because it prevents gossip. Some may be more vulnerable than others because they hold certain positions in our community. Members who are "rich and famous" or well-known often times do not want to expose themselves or their families. They still have questions and need help. This is why I said that it is not about who is who in the community. My posting was about the kids and their progress at school.

So, what are the big issues? What is it that retention cannot help? Let's talk about the strategies and why they are not working? Lots of educators and coaches are reading this. Let's talk about it. How do we get to the bottom of this? How can we help each other?

Information is empowering and can change the way we do things. When we change the way we do things, things will change.

Thanks for all feedback privately and here. It is highly appreciated.

Liz

To: "sList " <sList >Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 1:05:59 PMSubject: Re: Retention and parent conferences

Hello Liz,

Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?

I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.

Thank you

And I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 5, 2010, at 9:51 AM, Lizzie Berg <floridalizzie@ yahoo.com> wrote:

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press

releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

Forward email

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Did you look at the link I provided? It is a great resource on retenetion http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

 

There are viewpoints and research from National Association of School Psychologists, Harvard Civil Rights Projectm California School Psychologist, US Dept of Education, Uiversity of Wisconsin and the American Federation of Teachers. ALL say that retention does NOT work and is a detriment to children.

 

Gabi and others,

 

 Let me ask everyone here : If I was your kid's ( grandkid's, nephew, friend etc) teacher, what would you ask me? What would you say to me?

 

In my previous postings maybe a year ago or more, I said several times that one can expect several of the list members here to be nurses, doctors, laywers, teachers, principals, ESE specialists, OTs, behavior specialists, counselors, cluster teachers and also at the same time be parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, godparents, siblings and friends of kids with autism. This is possible, right?  It is also possible to have one gen ed kid and one with autism, right? So, it is OK to compare a cluster to a gen ed room, and see the difference. Do we like what we see? Are gen ed teachers held to a higher standard? Are cluster teachers less accountable? What is my role as a parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle or advocate? What can I do now to make things better for my kid. What is within my power, and when am I banging my head against the wall? What can I change being outside the school system?

 

 Many of us became attracted to our profession and chose a career that is related to ASD because autism had come into our lives. Some grew up with autism. One of the list members here has an older sister with autism. She just did not know it as a kid. She thought that everybody's older sisters were like her sister. It is very possible to work for an organization that provides services for children with ASD and be happy. I have done this for many, many years now. It has enriched my life, made me a better person and helped me in absolutely all aspects of my personal and professional life. I  have met, and continue to meet, the most interesting, beautiful and caring people because of my involvement with ASD. Many of them read these postings every day :) 

 

 I meet people every day who don't know much about autism. I advocate for spectrum kids day and night, at work, at airports,  in restaurants and in bars.

This list is uplifting because it provides me with great opporunities to change things. I am finally e-mailing Christ, and I have a better understanding of  what the issues really are. Often times, it really takes a village or a county.

 

When I said that I accept private e-mails with fake names,  it was because I respect people's need for privacy and because it prevents gossip. Some may be more vulnerable than others because they hold certain positions in our community. Members who are  " rich and famous "  or well-known often times do not want to expose themselves or their families. They still have questions and need help. This is why  I said that it is not about who is who in the community. My posting was  about the kids and their progress at school.

 

So, what are the big issues? What is it  that retention cannot help? Let's talk about the strategies and why they are not working? Lots of educators and coaches are reading this. Let's talk about it. How do we get to the bottom of this? How can we help each other?

Information is empowering and can change the way we do things. When we change the way we do things, things will change. 

 

Thanks for all feedback privately and here. It is highly appreciated.

 

Liz

To: " sList " <sList >

Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 1:05:59 PMSubject: Re: Retention and parent conferences

 

Hello Liz,

Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?

I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.

Thank you

And I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 5, 2010, at 9:51 AM, Lizzie Berg <floridalizzie@ yahoo.com> wrote:

 

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

 

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to  middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers  and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

 

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my  opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year.  If you are  not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

 

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this " Retention discusses, the parents would like ______,  and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year " . If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: " retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause " .

 

Cood Cause: ESE kids  (and others)  cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called " Good Cause " . If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

 

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: " Do you want a conference "   I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

 

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their " a-- in the class " . Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education,  not who is who in the community.

 

Liz

 

 

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PM

Subject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available 

 

 

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org]

Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  Contact:  HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010                                                                 

 

 

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

 

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office  *

 

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grants

to help people navigate their health and long-term care options

 

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options.  

 Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care.

  " The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds, " said Secretary Sebelius.

  " We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports, " said Sebelius.

 The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs.  AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate implementation and monitoring through a single process. 

 Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems.

  " When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care, " said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. " Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services.  Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care.  This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care. "

 AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care models.  

                                                                                                                 " AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges.  This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live, " said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging.

                                                                        Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs).  Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds to: 

        *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

         benefits including prevention;        *use additional funds through a competitive process to

         provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs;        *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

         in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

         they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and         *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

         the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

         disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

         rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit.    " CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.  The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services, " said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. 

 The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). 

 These grants also complement President Obama's " Year of Community Living Initiative, " which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies.                

 The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010.  Grants will be awarded in September 2010.  For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov.

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

 

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Posted
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Did you look at the link I provided? It is a great resource on retenetion http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

 

There are viewpoints and research from National Association of School Psychologists, Harvard Civil Rights Projectm California School Psychologist, US Dept of Education, Uiversity of Wisconsin and the American Federation of Teachers. ALL say that retention does NOT work and is a detriment to children.

 

Gabi and others,

 

 Let me ask everyone here : If I was your kid's ( grandkid's, nephew, friend etc) teacher, what would you ask me? What would you say to me?

 

In my previous postings maybe a year ago or more, I said several times that one can expect several of the list members here to be nurses, doctors, laywers, teachers, principals, ESE specialists, OTs, behavior specialists, counselors, cluster teachers and also at the same time be parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, godparents, siblings and friends of kids with autism. This is possible, right?  It is also possible to have one gen ed kid and one with autism, right? So, it is OK to compare a cluster to a gen ed room, and see the difference. Do we like what we see? Are gen ed teachers held to a higher standard? Are cluster teachers less accountable? What is my role as a parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle or advocate? What can I do now to make things better for my kid. What is within my power, and when am I banging my head against the wall? What can I change being outside the school system?

 

 Many of us became attracted to our profession and chose a career that is related to ASD because autism had come into our lives. Some grew up with autism. One of the list members here has an older sister with autism. She just did not know it as a kid. She thought that everybody's older sisters were like her sister. It is very possible to work for an organization that provides services for children with ASD and be happy. I have done this for many, many years now. It has enriched my life, made me a better person and helped me in absolutely all aspects of my personal and professional life. I  have met, and continue to meet, the most interesting, beautiful and caring people because of my involvement with ASD. Many of them read these postings every day :) 

 

 I meet people every day who don't know much about autism. I advocate for spectrum kids day and night, at work, at airports,  in restaurants and in bars.

This list is uplifting because it provides me with great opporunities to change things. I am finally e-mailing Christ, and I have a better understanding of  what the issues really are. Often times, it really takes a village or a county.

 

When I said that I accept private e-mails with fake names,  it was because I respect people's need for privacy and because it prevents gossip. Some may be more vulnerable than others because they hold certain positions in our community. Members who are  " rich and famous "  or well-known often times do not want to expose themselves or their families. They still have questions and need help. This is why  I said that it is not about who is who in the community. My posting was  about the kids and their progress at school.

 

So, what are the big issues? What is it  that retention cannot help? Let's talk about the strategies and why they are not working? Lots of educators and coaches are reading this. Let's talk about it. How do we get to the bottom of this? How can we help each other?

Information is empowering and can change the way we do things. When we change the way we do things, things will change. 

 

Thanks for all feedback privately and here. It is highly appreciated.

 

Liz

To: " sList " <sList >

Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 1:05:59 PMSubject: Re: Retention and parent conferences

 

Hello Liz,

Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?

I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.

Thank you

And I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 5, 2010, at 9:51 AM, Lizzie Berg <floridalizzie@ yahoo.com> wrote:

 

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

 

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to  middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers  and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

 

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my  opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year.  If you are  not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

 

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this " Retention discusses, the parents would like ______,  and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year " . If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: " retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause " .

 

Cood Cause: ESE kids  (and others)  cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called " Good Cause " . If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

 

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: " Do you want a conference "   I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

 

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their " a-- in the class " . Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education,  not who is who in the community.

 

Liz

 

 

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PM

Subject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available 

 

 

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org]

Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  Contact:  HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010                                                                 

 

 

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

 

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office  *

 

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grants

to help people navigate their health and long-term care options

 

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options.  

 Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care.

  " The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds, " said Secretary Sebelius.

  " We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports, " said Sebelius.

 The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs.  AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate implementation and monitoring through a single process. 

 Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems.

  " When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care, " said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. " Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services.  Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care.  This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care. "

 AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care models.  

                                                                                                                 " AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges.  This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live, " said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging.

                                                                        Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs).  Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds to: 

        *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

         benefits including prevention;        *use additional funds through a competitive process to

         provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs;        *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

         in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

         they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and         *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

         the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

         disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

         rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit.    " CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.  The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services, " said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. 

 The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). 

 These grants also complement President Obama's " Year of Community Living Initiative, " which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies.                

 The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010.  Grants will be awarded in September 2010.  For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov.

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

 

Forward email

This email was sent to denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net by vandabfddc (DOT) org.

Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.

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Florida Developmental Disabilities Council | 124 Marriott Drive | Suite 203 | Tallahassee | FL | 32301

-- AutismOnTheGo.com

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Posted
Posted

, where can I find the research?

From: sList

[mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of Hawk

Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 6:20 PM

To: sList

Subject: Retention and parent conferences

MOST children should NOT be retained. It has

been shown that there is no real benefit to retention and actually harms

students.

FACTS

Students

rated grade retention as the single most stressful life event, higher than the

loss of a parent or going blind. Retained students are less likely to receive a

high school diploma by age 20, receive poorer educational competence ratings,

and are less likely to be enrolled in any post-secondary education program.

Retained students receive lower educational and employment status ratings and

are paid less per hour at age 20.

You can find more information here and read papers published studying this.

More available here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

I recently met a parent who is in

stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I

think:

The students have the right to stay

in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have

the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move

to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion

criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education

(gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services

at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for

debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The

students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first

grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed

students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious

underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and

they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the

students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform

academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a

fifth grader.

Cluster students and other

ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It

is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in

my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of

the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of

cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into

middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your

child any school year. If you are not sure what to do,

retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has

suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in

our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum

learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have

finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus

on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The

conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this " Retention

discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so

and so grade next school year " . If you want him to be promoted the

conference form should say something like this: " retention discussed, and

the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause " .

Cood Cause: ESE

kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years.

Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be

waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called " Good

Cause " . If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to

first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that

he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a

spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a

red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand

or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum

of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you

should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You

receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking

period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to

sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: " Do you want a

conference " I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why?

And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you

request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense

that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this

is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to

say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a

lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real

life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get

their " a-- in the class " . Four conferences a year is a

must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to

your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make

up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and

their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

To: <deniseslist >

Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PM

Subject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org]

Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PM

To: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net

Subject: $60 Million in Grants Available

Error! Filename not

specified.

FOR IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

Contact: HHS Press Office

Thursday, June 3,

2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care

Act Grants

to help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen

Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act

grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers

better understand and navigate their health and long-term care

options.

Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS'

Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated

approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans

and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care.

" The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve

the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more

control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new

law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families

get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process

for states and people who rely on these funds, " said Secretary

Sebelius.

" We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try

and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time

trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out

where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together

will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and

long-term supports, " said Sebelius.

The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care

Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of

information, counseling, and access that will help people find

consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term

care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through

separate announcements, but will coordinate implementation and monitoring

through a single process.

Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are

under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and

Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities

live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports,

assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into

the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social

service systems.

" When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique

mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when

seeking care, " said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator.

" Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those

needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based

services. Making patients and their families aware of these options

will help them make inherently difficult decisions about long-term

care. This integrated program will help families make informed

choices and make sure patients have more control over their own

care. "

AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop

person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it

easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and

long-term services and support options. This grant program through the

Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to

truly integrate the medical and social services care models.

" AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long

served as the central place for individuals and families seeking

information and help to address health and long term care

challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more

coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they

live, " said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging.

Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's),

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and

Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant

program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive

funds to:

*provide outreach and assistance to

Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention;

*use additional funds

through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care

through ADRCs;

*use additional funds through a

competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies

as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care;

and

*coordinate and continue to embed

tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and

those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a

hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit.

" CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to

community-based care for the elderly and individuals with

disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources

for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's

long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where

and how they receive their services, " said Mann, director of

CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification.

The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions

in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March

23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 -

Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care

(Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for

Low-Income Programs).

These grants also complement President Obama's " Year of Community

Living Initiative, " which focuses on better serving those

individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support

programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other

HHS agencies.

The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants

will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this

grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx

or www.grants.gov.

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit

www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases,

fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

Forward email

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This email was sent to

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Posted
Posted

, where can I find the research?

From: sList

[mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of Hawk

Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 6:20 PM

To: sList

Subject: Retention and parent conferences

MOST children should NOT be retained. It has

been shown that there is no real benefit to retention and actually harms

students.

FACTS

Students

rated grade retention as the single most stressful life event, higher than the

loss of a parent or going blind. Retained students are less likely to receive a

high school diploma by age 20, receive poorer educational competence ratings,

and are less likely to be enrolled in any post-secondary education program.

Retained students receive lower educational and employment status ratings and

are paid less per hour at age 20.

You can find more information here and read papers published studying this.

More available here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

I recently met a parent who is in

stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I

think:

The students have the right to stay

in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have

the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move

to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion

criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education

(gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services

at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for

debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The

students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first

grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed

students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious

underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and

they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the

students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform

academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a

fifth grader.

Cluster students and other

ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It

is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in

my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of

the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of

cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into

middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your

child any school year. If you are not sure what to do,

retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has

suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in

our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum

learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have

finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus

on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The

conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this " Retention

discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so

and so grade next school year " . If you want him to be promoted the

conference form should say something like this: " retention discussed, and

the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause " .

Cood Cause: ESE

kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years.

Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be

waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called " Good

Cause " . If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to

first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that

he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a

spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a

red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand

or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum

of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you

should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You

receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking

period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to

sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: " Do you want a

conference " I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why?

And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you

request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense

that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this

is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to

say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a

lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real

life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get

their " a-- in the class " . Four conferences a year is a

must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to

your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make

up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and

their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

To: <deniseslist >

Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PM

Subject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org]

Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PM

To: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net

Subject: $60 Million in Grants Available

Error! Filename not

specified.

FOR IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

Contact: HHS Press Office

Thursday, June 3,

2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care

Act Grants

to help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen

Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act

grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers

better understand and navigate their health and long-term care

options.

Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS'

Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated

approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans

and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care.

" The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve

the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more

control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new

law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families

get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process

for states and people who rely on these funds, " said Secretary

Sebelius.

" We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try

and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time

trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out

where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together

will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and

long-term supports, " said Sebelius.

The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care

Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of

information, counseling, and access that will help people find

consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term

care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through

separate announcements, but will coordinate implementation and monitoring

through a single process.

Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are

under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and

Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities

live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports,

assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into

the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social

service systems.

" When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique

mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when

seeking care, " said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator.

" Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those

needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based

services. Making patients and their families aware of these options

will help them make inherently difficult decisions about long-term

care. This integrated program will help families make informed

choices and make sure patients have more control over their own

care. "

AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop

person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it

easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and

long-term services and support options. This grant program through the

Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to

truly integrate the medical and social services care models.

" AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long

served as the central place for individuals and families seeking

information and help to address health and long term care

challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more

coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they

live, " said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging.

Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's),

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and

Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant

program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive

funds to:

*provide outreach and assistance to

Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention;

*use additional funds

through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care

through ADRCs;

*use additional funds through a

competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies

as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care;

and

*coordinate and continue to embed

tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and

those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a

hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit.

" CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to

community-based care for the elderly and individuals with

disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources

for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's

long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where

and how they receive their services, " said Mann, director of

CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification.

The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions

in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March

23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 -

Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care

(Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for

Low-Income Programs).

These grants also complement President Obama's " Year of Community

Living Initiative, " which focuses on better serving those

individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support

programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other

HHS agencies.

The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants

will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this

grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx

or www.grants.gov.

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit

www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases,

fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

Forward email

Error!

Filename not specified.

This email was sent to

denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net by vandabfddc (DOT)

org.

Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.

Email

Marketing by

Error!

Filename not specified.

Florida Developmental Disabilities

Council | 124 Marriott Drive | Suite 203 | Tallahassee | FL | 32301

Error! Filename not specified.

--

AutismOnTheGo.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest guest

Guest guest

Posted
Posted

, where can I find the research?

From: sList

[mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of Hawk

Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 6:20 PM

To: sList

Subject: Retention and parent conferences

MOST children should NOT be retained. It has

been shown that there is no real benefit to retention and actually harms

students.

FACTS

Students

rated grade retention as the single most stressful life event, higher than the

loss of a parent or going blind. Retained students are less likely to receive a

high school diploma by age 20, receive poorer educational competence ratings,

and are less likely to be enrolled in any post-secondary education program.

Retained students receive lower educational and employment status ratings and

are paid less per hour at age 20.

You can find more information here and read papers published studying this.

More available here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

I recently met a parent who is in

stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I

think:

The students have the right to stay

in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have

the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move

to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion

criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education

(gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services

at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for

debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The

students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first

grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed

students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious

underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and

they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the

students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform

academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a

fifth grader.

Cluster students and other

ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It

is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in

my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of

the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of

cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into

middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your

child any school year. If you are not sure what to do,

retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has

suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in

our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum

learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have

finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus

on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The

conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this " Retention

discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so

and so grade next school year " . If you want him to be promoted the

conference form should say something like this: " retention discussed, and

the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause " .

Cood Cause: ESE

kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years.

Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be

waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called " Good

Cause " . If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to

first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that

he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a

spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a

red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand

or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum

of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you

should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You

receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking

period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to

sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: " Do you want a

conference " I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why?

And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you

request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense

that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this

is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to

say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a

lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real

life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get

their " a-- in the class " . Four conferences a year is a

must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to

your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make

up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and

their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

To: <deniseslist >

Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PM

Subject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org]

Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PM

To: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net

Subject: $60 Million in Grants Available

Error! Filename not

specified.

FOR IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

Contact: HHS Press Office

Thursday, June 3,

2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care

Act Grants

to help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen

Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act

grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers

better understand and navigate their health and long-term care

options.

Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS'

Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated

approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans

and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care.

" The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve

the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more

control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new

law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families

get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process

for states and people who rely on these funds, " said Secretary

Sebelius.

" We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try

and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time

trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out

where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together

will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and

long-term supports, " said Sebelius.

The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care

Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of

information, counseling, and access that will help people find

consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term

care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through

separate announcements, but will coordinate implementation and monitoring

through a single process.

Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are

under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and

Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities

live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports,

assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into

the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social

service systems.

" When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique

mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when

seeking care, " said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator.

" Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those

needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based

services. Making patients and their families aware of these options

will help them make inherently difficult decisions about long-term

care. This integrated program will help families make informed

choices and make sure patients have more control over their own

care. "

AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop

person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it

easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and

long-term services and support options. This grant program through the

Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to

truly integrate the medical and social services care models.

" AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long

served as the central place for individuals and families seeking

information and help to address health and long term care

challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more

coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they

live, " said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging.

Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's),

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and

Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant

program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive

funds to:

*provide outreach and assistance to

Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention;

*use additional funds

through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care

through ADRCs;

*use additional funds through a

competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies

as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care;

and

*coordinate and continue to embed

tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and

those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a

hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit.

" CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to

community-based care for the elderly and individuals with

disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources

for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's

long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where

and how they receive their services, " said Mann, director of

CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification.

The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions

in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March

23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 -

Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care

(Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for

Low-Income Programs).

These grants also complement President Obama's " Year of Community

Living Initiative, " which focuses on better serving those

individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support

programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other

HHS agencies.

The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants

will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this

grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx

or www.grants.gov.

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit

www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases,

fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

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"If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school."what do you mean by this? I get it that the students have the right to stay so many years in school so why not use it, so on and so forth...BUT there has to be some meaning in the fact that almost no other professionals, aside from educators, promote retention. Like I said before retention on its own means squat, and accomplishes just that. How many times is a teacher or an educational system or method challenged regarding a student "lack of progress"? Our kids are tested and re-tested and when progress is not made, they get tested some more. Surely, there has to be some other "underlying" issue preventing this student from being educated. How many times is that student's teacher tested and observed and evaluated to see if what she/he's doing is what's most appropriate for that student? Would her/his lack of skills ever be considered the student's "underlying" issue? Not likely, from what I've seen so

far.

Would retention with that same teacher be of any value? Most schools have one cluster room for each grade, so if a student were to be retained, the teacher would very likely be the same.It's great and obviously necessary that parents get involved, but it's not fair to put all the weight on us. It's great to know the law because most times, it's all the schools care about. Parents can only go so far in regards to their involvement in the day-to-day school life."Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class" - Absolutely, parental involvement, again, is a must. How about getting school administrators and the so-called program specialists in the classrooms as well? To see and evaluate what's being done. If I talk to a brick wall, I can huff and puff, but it's not likely that the wall will talk back to me, is it?I know some parents who, really, just go with the flow and don't challenge the school system, but I'm yet to see a teacher or other school personnel admitting that they missed the mark on some issue. Subject: Retention and parent conferencesTo: sList Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010, 1:51 PM

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with

disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

Forward email

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"If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school."what do you mean by this? I get it that the students have the right to stay so many years in school so why not use it, so on and so forth...BUT there has to be some meaning in the fact that almost no other professionals, aside from educators, promote retention. Like I said before retention on its own means squat, and accomplishes just that. How many times is a teacher or an educational system or method challenged regarding a student "lack of progress"? Our kids are tested and re-tested and when progress is not made, they get tested some more. Surely, there has to be some other "underlying" issue preventing this student from being educated. How many times is that student's teacher tested and observed and evaluated to see if what she/he's doing is what's most appropriate for that student? Would her/his lack of skills ever be considered the student's "underlying" issue? Not likely, from what I've seen so

far.

Would retention with that same teacher be of any value? Most schools have one cluster room for each grade, so if a student were to be retained, the teacher would very likely be the same.It's great and obviously necessary that parents get involved, but it's not fair to put all the weight on us. It's great to know the law because most times, it's all the schools care about. Parents can only go so far in regards to their involvement in the day-to-day school life."Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class" - Absolutely, parental involvement, again, is a must. How about getting school administrators and the so-called program specialists in the classrooms as well? To see and evaluate what's being done. If I talk to a brick wall, I can huff and puff, but it's not likely that the wall will talk back to me, is it?I know some parents who, really, just go with the flow and don't challenge the school system, but I'm yet to see a teacher or other school personnel admitting that they missed the mark on some issue. Subject: Retention and parent conferencesTo: sList Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010, 1:51 PM

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with

disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

Forward email

This email was sent to denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net by vandabfddc (DOT) org.

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Posted
Posted

"If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school."what do you mean by this? I get it that the students have the right to stay so many years in school so why not use it, so on and so forth...BUT there has to be some meaning in the fact that almost no other professionals, aside from educators, promote retention. Like I said before retention on its own means squat, and accomplishes just that. How many times is a teacher or an educational system or method challenged regarding a student "lack of progress"? Our kids are tested and re-tested and when progress is not made, they get tested some more. Surely, there has to be some other "underlying" issue preventing this student from being educated. How many times is that student's teacher tested and observed and evaluated to see if what she/he's doing is what's most appropriate for that student? Would her/his lack of skills ever be considered the student's "underlying" issue? Not likely, from what I've seen so

far.

Would retention with that same teacher be of any value? Most schools have one cluster room for each grade, so if a student were to be retained, the teacher would very likely be the same.It's great and obviously necessary that parents get involved, but it's not fair to put all the weight on us. It's great to know the law because most times, it's all the schools care about. Parents can only go so far in regards to their involvement in the day-to-day school life."Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class" - Absolutely, parental involvement, again, is a must. How about getting school administrators and the so-called program specialists in the classrooms as well? To see and evaluate what's being done. If I talk to a brick wall, I can huff and puff, but it's not likely that the wall will talk back to me, is it?I know some parents who, really, just go with the flow and don't challenge the school system, but I'm yet to see a teacher or other school personnel admitting that they missed the mark on some issue. Subject: Retention and parent conferencesTo: sList Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010, 1:51 PM

I recently met a parent who is in stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I think:

The students have the right to stay in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education (gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a fifth grader.

Cluster students and other ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your child any school year. If you are not sure what to do, retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years. Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why? And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>To: <deniseslist@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PMSubject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PMTo: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) netSubject: $60 Million in Grants Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press OfficeThursday, June 3, 2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act Grantsto help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS' Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care. "The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new law, will help seniors, individuals with

disabilities

and their families get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary Sebelius. "We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and long-term supports," said Sebelius. The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of information, counseling, and access that will help people find consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through separate announcements, but will coordinate

implementation and monitoring through a single process. Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports, assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social service systems. "When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator. "Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based services. Making patients and their families aware of these options will help them

make inherently difficult decisions about long-term care. This integrated program will help families make informed choices and make sure patients have more control over their own care." AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and long-term services and support options. This grant program through the Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to truly integrate the medical and social services care

models. "AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information and help to address health and long term care challenges. This collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will

further strengthen the network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive funds

to: *provide outreach and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention; *use additional funds through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care through ADRCs; *use additional funds through a competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care; and *coordinate and continue to embed tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit. "CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to community-based care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification. The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 - Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care (Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for Low-Income Programs). These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other HHS agencies. The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx or www.grants.gov. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

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Posted
Posted

Here is my two cents.

Retention WITHOUT remediation DOES NOT work.

To want our children to be retained for 2 years in the same level is not a wise

choice for Anyone. Reguardless of the label.

the emotional toll it can take on a child and family are not to be

underestimated.

Parents need to be informed that the school wants to retain the child months

before the end of the school year. This needs to be done in writing not verbal

hints as is so often done.

Broward county does not recognize Dyslexia as a reading disablity,reason: if it

doesn't exist they do not have to test for it or remediate with PROVEN methods.

Instead they can money around with a childs future for years.

Use your McKay scholarship, pull your child and the money that the school system

would get and punish the administration of this horrible school district. Not

the child.

As a very wise planner said at one of the ASA Broward meetings " Plan for the day

when the yellow bus is no longer coming " In other words plan for your childs

adult life and work backwards as they are going to be an adult longer than they

will be in the school system. There will be a day of no more IEP's. and this is

your mission.

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Posted
Posted

Here is my two cents.

Retention WITHOUT remediation DOES NOT work.

To want our children to be retained for 2 years in the same level is not a wise

choice for Anyone. Reguardless of the label.

the emotional toll it can take on a child and family are not to be

underestimated.

Parents need to be informed that the school wants to retain the child months

before the end of the school year. This needs to be done in writing not verbal

hints as is so often done.

Broward county does not recognize Dyslexia as a reading disablity,reason: if it

doesn't exist they do not have to test for it or remediate with PROVEN methods.

Instead they can money around with a childs future for years.

Use your McKay scholarship, pull your child and the money that the school system

would get and punish the administration of this horrible school district. Not

the child.

As a very wise planner said at one of the ASA Broward meetings " Plan for the day

when the yellow bus is no longer coming " In other words plan for your childs

adult life and work backwards as they are going to be an adult longer than they

will be in the school system. There will be a day of no more IEP's. and this is

your mission.

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Posted
Posted

Liz, I'm not sure you answered Gabi's question.

Given your outspokeness on retention & segregation, I believe alot of us assume you work for th school district

3e.

Re: Retention and parent conferences

Posted by: "Lizzie Berg" floridalizzie@... floridalizzie

Sat Jun 5, 2010 6:38 pm (PDT)

Gabi and others, Let me ask everyone here : If I was your kid's ( grandkid's, nephew, friend etc) teacher, what would you ask me? What would you say to me? In my previous postings maybe a year ago or more, I said several times that one can expect several of the list members here to be nurses, doctors, laywers, teachers, principals, ESE specialists, OTs, behavior specialists, counselors, cluster teachers and also at the same time be parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, godparents, siblings and friends of kids with autism. This is possible, right? It is also possible to have one gen ed kid and one with autism, right? So, it is OK to compare a cluster to a gen ed room, and see the difference. Do we like what we see? Are gen ed teachers held to a higher standard? Are cluster teachers less accountable? What is my role as a parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle or advocate? What can I do now to make things better for my kid. What is within my power, and when am I banging my head against the wall? What can I change being outside the school system? Many of us became attracted to our profession and chose a career that is related to ASD because autism had come into our lives. Some grew up with autism. One of the list members here has an older sister with autism. She just did not know it as a kid. She thought that everybody's older sisters were like her sister. It is very possible to work for an organization that provides services for children with ASD and be happy. I have done this for many, many years now. It has enriched my life, made me a better person and helped me in absolutely all aspects of my personal and professional life. I have met, and continue to meet, the most interesting, beautiful and caring people because of my involvement with ASD. Many of them read these postings every day :) I meet people every day who don't know much about autism. I advocate for spectrum kids day and night, at work, at airports, in restaurants and in bars. This list is uplifting because it provides me with great opporunities to change things. I am finally e-mailing Christ, and I have a better understanding of what the issues really are. Often times, it really takes a village or a county.When I said that I accept private e-mails with fake names, it was because I respect people's need for privacy and because it prevents gossip. Some may be more vulnerable than others because they hold certain positions in our community. Members who are "rich and famous" or well-known often times do not want to expose themselves or their families. They still have questions and need help. This is why I said that it is not about who is who in the community. My posting was about the kids and their progress at school. So, what are the big issues? What is it that retention cannot help? Let's talk about the strategies and why they are not working? Lots of educators and coaches are reading this. Let's talk about it. How do we get to the bottom of this? How can we help each other? Information is empowering and can change the way we do things. When we change the way we do things, things will change. Thanks for all feedback privately and here. It is highly appreciated.Liz________________________________From: Gabi <bijcom>To: "sList " <sList >Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 1:05:59 PMSubject: Re: Retention and parent conferences Hello Liz,Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.Thank youAnd I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.Sent from my iPhone

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Liz, I'm not sure you answered Gabi's question.

Given your outspokeness on retention & segregation, I believe alot of us assume you work for th school district

3e.

Re: Retention and parent conferences

Posted by: "Lizzie Berg" floridalizzie@... floridalizzie

Sat Jun 5, 2010 6:38 pm (PDT)

Gabi and others, Let me ask everyone here : If I was your kid's ( grandkid's, nephew, friend etc) teacher, what would you ask me? What would you say to me? In my previous postings maybe a year ago or more, I said several times that one can expect several of the list members here to be nurses, doctors, laywers, teachers, principals, ESE specialists, OTs, behavior specialists, counselors, cluster teachers and also at the same time be parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, godparents, siblings and friends of kids with autism. This is possible, right? It is also possible to have one gen ed kid and one with autism, right? So, it is OK to compare a cluster to a gen ed room, and see the difference. Do we like what we see? Are gen ed teachers held to a higher standard? Are cluster teachers less accountable? What is my role as a parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle or advocate? What can I do now to make things better for my kid. What is within my power, and when am I banging my head against the wall? What can I change being outside the school system? Many of us became attracted to our profession and chose a career that is related to ASD because autism had come into our lives. Some grew up with autism. One of the list members here has an older sister with autism. She just did not know it as a kid. She thought that everybody's older sisters were like her sister. It is very possible to work for an organization that provides services for children with ASD and be happy. I have done this for many, many years now. It has enriched my life, made me a better person and helped me in absolutely all aspects of my personal and professional life. I have met, and continue to meet, the most interesting, beautiful and caring people because of my involvement with ASD. Many of them read these postings every day :) I meet people every day who don't know much about autism. I advocate for spectrum kids day and night, at work, at airports, in restaurants and in bars. This list is uplifting because it provides me with great opporunities to change things. I am finally e-mailing Christ, and I have a better understanding of what the issues really are. Often times, it really takes a village or a county.When I said that I accept private e-mails with fake names, it was because I respect people's need for privacy and because it prevents gossip. Some may be more vulnerable than others because they hold certain positions in our community. Members who are "rich and famous" or well-known often times do not want to expose themselves or their families. They still have questions and need help. This is why I said that it is not about who is who in the community. My posting was about the kids and their progress at school. So, what are the big issues? What is it that retention cannot help? Let's talk about the strategies and why they are not working? Lots of educators and coaches are reading this. Let's talk about it. How do we get to the bottom of this? How can we help each other? Information is empowering and can change the way we do things. When we change the way we do things, things will change. Thanks for all feedback privately and here. It is highly appreciated.Liz________________________________From: Gabi <bijcom>To: "sList " <sList >Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 1:05:59 PMSubject: Re: Retention and parent conferences Hello Liz,Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.Thank youAnd I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.Sent from my iPhone

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Liz, I'm not sure you answered Gabi's question.

Given your outspokeness on retention & segregation, I believe alot of us assume you work for th school district

3e.

Re: Retention and parent conferences

Posted by: "Lizzie Berg" floridalizzie@... floridalizzie

Sat Jun 5, 2010 6:38 pm (PDT)

Gabi and others, Let me ask everyone here : If I was your kid's ( grandkid's, nephew, friend etc) teacher, what would you ask me? What would you say to me? In my previous postings maybe a year ago or more, I said several times that one can expect several of the list members here to be nurses, doctors, laywers, teachers, principals, ESE specialists, OTs, behavior specialists, counselors, cluster teachers and also at the same time be parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, godparents, siblings and friends of kids with autism. This is possible, right? It is also possible to have one gen ed kid and one with autism, right? So, it is OK to compare a cluster to a gen ed room, and see the difference. Do we like what we see? Are gen ed teachers held to a higher standard? Are cluster teachers less accountable? What is my role as a parent, grand parent, aunt, uncle or advocate? What can I do now to make things better for my kid. What is within my power, and when am I banging my head against the wall? What can I change being outside the school system? Many of us became attracted to our profession and chose a career that is related to ASD because autism had come into our lives. Some grew up with autism. One of the list members here has an older sister with autism. She just did not know it as a kid. She thought that everybody's older sisters were like her sister. It is very possible to work for an organization that provides services for children with ASD and be happy. I have done this for many, many years now. It has enriched my life, made me a better person and helped me in absolutely all aspects of my personal and professional life. I have met, and continue to meet, the most interesting, beautiful and caring people because of my involvement with ASD. Many of them read these postings every day :) I meet people every day who don't know much about autism. I advocate for spectrum kids day and night, at work, at airports, in restaurants and in bars. This list is uplifting because it provides me with great opporunities to change things. I am finally e-mailing Christ, and I have a better understanding of what the issues really are. Often times, it really takes a village or a county.When I said that I accept private e-mails with fake names, it was because I respect people's need for privacy and because it prevents gossip. Some may be more vulnerable than others because they hold certain positions in our community. Members who are "rich and famous" or well-known often times do not want to expose themselves or their families. They still have questions and need help. This is why I said that it is not about who is who in the community. My posting was about the kids and their progress at school. So, what are the big issues? What is it that retention cannot help? Let's talk about the strategies and why they are not working? Lots of educators and coaches are reading this. Let's talk about it. How do we get to the bottom of this? How can we help each other? Information is empowering and can change the way we do things. When we change the way we do things, things will change. Thanks for all feedback privately and here. It is highly appreciated.Liz________________________________From: Gabi <bijcom>To: "sList " <sList >Sent: Sat, June 5, 2010 1:05:59 PMSubject: Re: Retention and parent conferences Hello Liz,Do you work in the school system? Or is a well-informed parent of a child with disability?I don't care who is who in the community, I'm just wondering since you offered to inform, where your knowledge comes from.Thank youAnd I don't have a lot of time now, but to retain a student is, in many cases, the easy way out of a bigger problem. Another year of the same strategies that didn't work the first time is a waste of time for the student.Sent from my iPhone

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Hello ,You have an older child and have seen more than some of us, me included. Do you believe that what happened was that Noah really got it the second time around or something was modified, adjusted... I do believe that more often than not, it is more of the same (from my own personal experience, my son is only 5). Obviously not to say that it never works out, your son's is a success story, maybe we'll read others.Gabi Sent from my iPhone

This is a very interesting discussion, especially all the

citations stating how retention is not desirable.

When Noah was in 3rd grade I was told if he didn’t

do well on the FCATs he would be retained. I was horrified at the thought

of him being held back a year, so instead of having him take the FCAT that year

(I think it was math), I kept him home from school on the testing as well as

the make-up days. At that point there was another criteria used, some

arcane conglomeration of present work and other testing, and the result was the

same. I lobbied the principal, North area, I think I even went to the

school board, but in the end he had to repeat 3rd grade. Along

the way several people told me he’d be better off staying in elementary

school another year, and I ignored them.

I can tell you now that I believe Florida Lizzie is absolutely

correct, being retained was the best thing for Noah and I have to believe for

many other ASD kids as well. The extra year of maturity really helped him,

he’s emotionally much more compatible with those typical kids who are

younger than him. Also, the nurturing environment of the autism clusters

found in the elementary schools has no real counterpart in the middle and high

schools yet. Our kids can legally stay in the school system until

age 22; for many if not most of them, what’s the point of rushing them

through the lower grades? For the person who said, if failed strategies

to teach the kids didn’t work the first year, why would they work a

second year, I can tell you that that is exactly what happened, the second time

around in 3rd grade Noah “got†the math he couldn’t

understand before.

From:

sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf

Of Hawk

Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 6:20 PM

To: sList

Subject: Retention and parent conferences

MOST children should NOT be retained. It has

been shown that there is no real benefit to retention and actually harms

students.

FACTS

Students

rated grade retention as the single most stressful life event, higher than the

loss of a parent or going blind. Retained students are less likely to receive a

high school diploma by age 20, receive poorer educational competence ratings,

and are less likely to be enrolled in any post-secondary education program.

Retained students receive lower educational and employment status ratings and

are paid less per hour at age 20.

You can find more information here and read papers published studying this.

More available here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

On Sat, Jun 5, 2010 at 9:51 AM, Lizzie Berg <floridalizzie> wrote:

I recently met a parent who is in

stunned because her kid;s teacher suggested retention next year. Here is what I

think:

The students have the right to stay

in elementary school from K through 5, which is 6 years, right? ESE kids have

the right to stay another 2 years before they have to, by law, move

to middle school. Most cluster students do not meet promotion

criteria because they are below grade level academically. General education

(gen.ed.) students who do not have a disability and who do not receive services

at school will not be promoted if they do not meet criteria. This is not up for

debate, the teachers and the parents do not have an option here. The

students need to be retained. Typically this is done in kindergarten or first

grade. It is also commonly done in third grade for various reasons. Gen ed

students who are retained are often evaluated to see if their is a more serious

underlying problem here. Some children in kindergarten are simply immature and

they catch up soon. Others have a learning disability and need more intense

instruction.

The goal is that by the time the

students leave the elementary school, they should hopefully be able to perform

academically at fifth grade level. They should be able to read and write like a

fifth grader.

Cluster students and other

ESE kids have the right to be retained two years in elementary school. It

is your teacher's responsibility to explain this to you, and in

my opinion, they should be held responible for giving you a copy of

the promotion criteria.

I cannot understand why parents of

cluster students are in a hurry to get them out of elementary school and into

middle? Why???

You can ask them to retain your

child any school year. If you are not sure what to do,

retain again in 5th grade.

If nobody at your school has

suggested retention, there is something very wrong with your school. It is in

our county;s and community's interest that all students receive the maximum

learning gains possible while they are in elementary school.

All parents should by now have

finished their spring teacher-parent conference. This conference should focus

on 2 things: academic and social progress, and promotion versus retention. The

conference form that you get a copy of should say somethng like this" Retention

discusses, the parents would like ______, and therefore X will be in so

and so grade next school year". If you want him to be promoted the

conference form should say something like this: "retention discussed, and

the parents want X to be promoted due to good cause".

Cood Cause: ESE

kids (and others) cannot be retained more than 2 years.

Therfore they will be promoted no matter what. The promotion crteria will be

waved, and the child is promoted due to something that is called "Good

Cause". If you retain him in kindergarten for a year, he has to move to

first grade next year. You can retain him again in first year, but after that

he has to move up no matter what.

If you have not been invited for a

spring conference, there is something very wrong with your school,. This is a

red flag. You should by now have the copy of your conference form in your hand

or you should have it filed in your big binder.

The teacher has to have a minimum

of 2 conferences with you each year. This is state law. In my opinion, you

should request no less than 4 conferences, one for each marking period. You

receive the progress report and report card ina yellow envelope eah marking

period, right? There is a line outside the on the envelop that you need to

sign, and next to it is a question that you should answer: "Do you want a

conference" I can't imagine why you would say no right then. Why?

And if you don't get they paricular envelope, I strongly suggest that you

request your conference right then!!!

When I read about all the nonsense

that takes place in our schools, I want to cry. One way to fix this

is by empowering and encouraging the kids' families. The best ammunition so to

say, is to be more informed about the educational system. It is great to know a

lot about the law, but it is equally important to know how things work in real

life. Families and friends of ASD kids who take this seriously need to get

their "a-- in the class". Four conferences a year is a

must. Let's start this next year.

If you have specific questions

related to your school that I may be able to help you with, just e-mail me

privately. Make up a fake name if that helps. This is about the kids and

their education, not who is who in the community.

Liz

From: Karp <denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net>

To: <deniseslist >

Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 8:45:26 PM

Subject: FDDC: $60 Million in Grants Available

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council [mailto:vandab@ fddc.org]

Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 4:17 PM

To: denisekarpmyacc (DOT) net

Subject: $60 Million in Grants Available

Error! Filename not

specified.

FOR IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

Contact: HHS Press Office

Thursday, June 3,

2010

Announcement from the

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

For more information, please contact

HHS Press Office *

HHS announces availability of $60 million in Affordable Care

Act Grants

to help people navigate their health and long-term care options

HHS Secretary Kathleen

Sebelius announced the availability of $60 million in Affordable Care Act

grants to states and communities to help individuals and their caregivers

better understand and navigate their health and long-term care

options.

Through this opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act HHS'

Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

Services (CMS) will work collaboratively to award funds for an integrated

approach that focuses on the unique needs of seniors, disabled Americans

and their caregivers as they seek health care and long-term care.

"The Affordable Care Act seeks to lower health care costs, improve

the quality of health care and perhaps most importantly give people more

control over their own care. These new grants, authorized under the new

law, will help seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families

get better quality care and more control. We've also streamlined the

process for states and people who rely on these funds," said Secretary

Sebelius.

"We know how difficult it can be for caregivers and patients to try

and deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time

trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out

where you can get help. These new funds that we have bundled together

will help promote better opportunities for coordination of health and

long-term supports," said Sebelius.

The purpose of this new grant program authorized by the Affordable Care

Act is to create streamlined, coordinated statewide systems of

information, counseling, and access that will help people find

consumer-friendly answers they seek to meet their health and long-term

care needs. AoA and CMS will administer the funding through

separate announcements, but will coordinate implementation and monitoring

through a single process.

Some specific areas of focus will include assisting individuals who are

under-served and hard to reach with information about their Medicare and

Medicaid benefits, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities

live at home or in settings of their choosing with the right supports,

assisting people transition from hospital or nursing home stays back into

the community, and strengthening linkages between the medical and social

service systems.

"When it comes to long-term health care, each patient has a unique

mix of complex medical and social needs that must be considered when

seeking care," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator.

"Our health care system can offer many options to meeting those

needs from traditional nursing home care to home and community-based

services. Making patients and their families aware of these options

will help them make inherently difficult decisions about long-term

care. This integrated program will help families make informed

choices and make sure patients have more control over their own

care."

AoA and CMS have provided grants to states for several years to develop

person-centered systems of information, counseling and access to make it

easier for individuals to learn about and access their health and

long-term services and support options. This grant program through the

Affordable Care Act strengthens and enhances the ability of states to

truly integrate the medical and social services care models.

"AoA's national network of community-based organizations has long

served as the central place for individuals and families seeking information

and help to address health and long term care challenges. This

collaborative opportunity between AoA and CMS will further strengthen the

network's capacity to help people in a more coordinated and comprehensive

way in the communities where they live," said Kathy Greenlee,

assistant secretary for aging.

Funds will be available to states, area agencies on aging (aaa's),

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Aging and

Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). Through the grant

program, states and local aging and disability programs will receive

funds to:

*provide outreach and assistance to

Medicare beneficiaries on their Medicare

benefits including prevention;

*use additional funds

through a competitive process to

provide Options Counseling on health and long-term care

through ADRCs;

*use additional funds through a

competitive process to strengthen the ADRCs role

in Money follows the Person program and support state Medicaid agencies

as

they transition individuals from nursing homes to community-based care;

and

*coordinate and continue to embed

tested Care Transition models that integrate

the medical and social service systems to help older individuals and

those with

disabilities remain in their own homes and communities after a

hospital,

rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility visit.

"CMS and AoA share a long-standing goal of expanding access to

community-based care for the elderly and individuals with

disabilities. The Affordable Care Act provides significant

resources for state Medicaid agencies and providers to balance the nation's

long-term care systems and assure that individuals have a choice of where

and how they receive their services," said Mann, director of

CMS's Center for Medicaid, CHIP, and Survey and Certification.

The announcement combines funding opportunities from several provisions

in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March

23, 2010,including the Role of Public Programs (Title II, Sections 2403 -

Money Follows the Person and 2405 - Funding for Aging and Disability

Resource Centers) and Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care

(Title III. Section 3306 - Funding for Outreach and Assistance for

Low-Income Programs).

These grants also complement President Obama's "Year of Community

Living Initiative," which focuses on better serving those

individuals with disabilities who need ongoing services and support

programs in the community such as those provided by AoA, CMS and other

HHS

agencies.

The deadline for applications is: Monday, July 30, 2010. Grants

will be awarded in September 2010. For more information about this

grant opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa. gov/AoARoot/ Grants/Funding/ index.aspx

or www.grants.gov.

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit

www.healthreform. gov. Note: All HHS press releases,

fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs. gov/news.

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Posted
Posted

This information can all be found here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htmOn Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 8:37 AM, Heifferon wrote:

 

, where can I find the research?

 

From: sList

[mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of Hawk

Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 6:20 PM

To: sList

Subject: Retention and parent conferences

 

 

MOST children should NOT be retained. It has

been shown that there is no real benefit to retention and actually harms

students.

FACTS

Students

rated grade retention as the single most stressful life event, higher than the

loss of a parent or going blind. Retained students are less likely to receive a

high school diploma by age 20, receive poorer educational competence ratings,

and are less likely to be enrolled in any post-secondary education program.

Retained students receive lower educational and employment status ratings and

are paid less per hour at age 20.

You can find more information here and read papers published studying this.

More available here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

-- AutismOnTheGo.com

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Guest guest

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Posted
Posted

This information can all be found here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htmOn Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 8:37 AM, Heifferon wrote:

 

, where can I find the research?

 

From: sList

[mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of Hawk

Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 6:20 PM

To: sList

Subject: Retention and parent conferences

 

 

MOST children should NOT be retained. It has

been shown that there is no real benefit to retention and actually harms

students.

FACTS

Students

rated grade retention as the single most stressful life event, higher than the

loss of a parent or going blind. Retained students are less likely to receive a

high school diploma by age 20, receive poorer educational competence ratings,

and are less likely to be enrolled in any post-secondary education program.

Retained students receive lower educational and employment status ratings and

are paid less per hour at age 20.

You can find more information here and read papers published studying this.

More available here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

-- AutismOnTheGo.com

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Share on other sites
Guest guest

Guest guest

Posted
Posted

This information can all be found here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htmOn Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 8:37 AM, Heifferon wrote:

 

, where can I find the research?

 

From: sList

[mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of Hawk

Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 6:20 PM

To: sList

Subject: Retention and parent conferences

 

 

MOST children should NOT be retained. It has

been shown that there is no real benefit to retention and actually harms

students.

FACTS

Students

rated grade retention as the single most stressful life event, higher than the

loss of a parent or going blind. Retained students are less likely to receive a

high school diploma by age 20, receive poorer educational competence ratings,

and are less likely to be enrolled in any post-secondary education program.

Retained students receive lower educational and employment status ratings and

are paid less per hour at age 20.

You can find more information here and read papers published studying this.

More available here http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/retain.index.htm

-- AutismOnTheGo.com

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