On Special Education
Explored the opportunities and obstacles educators encounter while serving students with special needs, including children with disabilities, gifted students, and those who are homeless or incarcerated. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.
Education
Around the Web
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! As befits the season, I'm spinning interesting bits of news here and there into a blog post. I wouldn't call these "leftovers," though...more like yummy tidbits:
States
Keeping Track of Autism Legislation
The National Conference of State Legislatures has created a great database for those who would like to keep tabs on autism legislation nationwide. The developmental disorder has garned attention from lawmakers around the country, who have introduced a number of bills designed to provide more early intervention and educational opportunities for children.
Special Education
"Twice-Exceptional" Gifted Study
The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. and four St.Paul-area school districts are embarking on a study that will help educators learn the best ways to teach gifted children who also have learning disabilities.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Mental Health Services for Children Lacking
The National Center for Children in Poverty, based at Columbia University in New York, has released a report that shows that states are still struggling to deliver adequate care to children and youth with mental health problems.
Special Education
Curing Autism?
After years of intensive therapy, Jayne Lytel believes that her son, Leo, 9, has behaviors indistinguishable from his typically developing peers -- even though he was diagnosed with autism at age 2.
States
Washington State Sued Over Special Education Services in Religious Schools
A group of parents who have children in a Christian school are suing the state of Washington because it won't provide special education services to their children at the school; instead, the children have to leave campus.
Special Education
Department of Education Appears Firm on Spec. Ed. Compliance Indicators
My colleagues at Edweek.org have posted a first look at an article I wrote this week on special education compliance and the states. The print version of the story will be in the Nov. 19 issue of Education Week.
Special Education
RTI Chat Nov. 13
My colleagues at TeacherMagazine.org are hosting an online chat Thursday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. eastern time on response to intervention. Both of the guests are great: Judy Elliott, now the chief academic officer for the Los Angeles Unified School District and a longtime practitioner of response to intervention, and Douglas Fuchs, a longtime researcher on the topic.
School & District Management
Standardized IEPs in New York Prompt Worries
The GothamSchools blog recently posted about a move in New York City to standardize the forms used to create individualized education programs, the blueprint for educating students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Education
What to Do Now That the Election is Over
Mark Miller, who blogs at Special Needs Truth '08, has a list of actions that disability advocates can continue post-election.
Education
New Administration to Take on Medicaid Cuts to Special Education?
I think it's safe to say that financial pressures will prevent President-elect Obama from immediately addressing an issue like increased funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which he supports.
School & District Management
A Month of Special Education Chats
I'm really excited about this: my colleagues at the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center (part of the same nonprofit that publishes Education Week) will be releasing a report on Monday that explores critical issues in special education, with a particular focus on high school students and transition issues. As a part of the release, we're hosting four online chats exploring different topics related to older students in special education.
Families & the Community
The McCain Campaign and Parent Centers
During last week's speech outlining the future McCain administration's goals for special education, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said that the administration would refocus the special education law so that federally-funded parent centers would work with infants and toddlers:
Education
Palin Gives Major Policy Address On Special Education, Disabilities
Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, delivered a speech this morning in Pittsburgh outlining policy goals for special education and disability advocacy in a McCain administration.