Helping Parents and Advocates Improve
Educational Results for Children with Disabilities
Helping Parents and Advocates Improve
Educational Results for Children with Disabilities
Posted: 6/27/2012
On June 22, 2012 the U.S. Department of Education released a “Dear Colleague” letter encouraging states and local education agencies to request that textbook publishers use the most recent version of the Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) Structure Guidelines when providing accessible instructional materials to students who are blind or who have print disabilities. According to the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard Center (Center), use of the new MathML3 guidelines will improve the accessibility of mathematical and scientific content in core instructional materials for students who are unable to access traditional print materials. More>>>
Posted: 6/20/2012
On June 20, the Government Accountability Office released a new report, "Charter Schools: Additional Federal Attention Needed to Help Protect Access for Students with Disabilities. GAO looked at the enrollment level of students with disabilities, special education services provided at charter schools, and charter school oversight. Read the full report or highlights page for more information
Posted: 6/11/2012
The Government Accountability Report (GAO) "Legal Protections for Vulnerable Youth Need to Be More Fully Assessed" examines different approaches taken by states and local school districts to respond to bullying and provides recommendations for further study of how to protect vulnerable groups of youth who may not be protected by civil rights laws. More>>>
Posted: April 20, 2012
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day) collaborating organizations cordially invite you to join us for the 2012 Awareness Day national event, Heroes of Hope, on Wednesday, May 9, at The George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
More Information about Awareness Day on May 9th.
Posted: March 12, 2012
The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center in conjunction with Easter Seals have released the “Volunteer Respite Manual: Creating Valuable Options for Family Caregivers” The purpose of the manual is to help community-based programs assess their individual needs, to help them plan and implement volunteer respite programs, and to assist state Lifespan Respite programs as they address the requirements of the program to build respite capacity through volunteer training and recruitment.
The Education Commission of the States recently released: 12 for 2012: Issues to Move Education Forward in 2012.
This report identifies 12 important issues on tap for 2012.
How Safe is the Schoolhouse? An Analysis of State Seclusion and Restraint Laws and Policies (2012).
The report is a comprehensive description and analysis of state seclusion/restraint statutes, regulations, and nonbinding guidance in effect through 2012. It is designed for easy use. It also contains a brief executive summary, easy-to-use maps and charts, and a state-by-state summary.
For Every Child, Multiple Measures: What Parents and Educators Want from K-12 Assessments is a new study the North West Evaluation Association (NWEA) and Grunwald Associates LLC. The study underscores parents' and educators’ desire for timely, actionable assessments that monitor individual student performance and progress across a range of subjects and skills to help improve teaching and learning.
Posted: February 22, 2012
In the wake of “National School Choice Week,” COPAA has released the brief "Charter Schools and Students with Disabilities: Preliminary Analysis of the Legal Issues and Concerns" written by the Center for Law and Education under contract with COPAA. The stated purpose of National School Choice Week is to “shine a spotlight on effective education options for every child.” Charter schools have long been touted as one of the most promising educational choice options, yet the research remains limited, inconsistent, and for the most part, inconclusive as to whether charter school students are actually more effectively learning and performing than students of similar backgrounds enrolled in traditional public schools. Disturbingly, data shows that students with disabilities (especially low incidence, more significant disabilities) are denied meaningful access to and a free appropriate public education within charter schools. Read more about the Preliminary Analysis brief
Posted: February 3, 2012
A National Update of Case Law 1998 to the Present under the IDEA and Section 504/A.D.A. by noted legal expert Perry Zirkel. This compendium of litigation will be helpful for anyone looking for the legal history of the case law under these three important civil rights laws with respect to educating children and youth with disabilities. To download a copy of this publication, click here.
Posted: February 3, 2012
The Department of Education recently released a Dear Colleague letter and FAQ that help to ensure educational opportunities for children with disabilities are provided free from disability discrimination.
Read the press release where you can view the letter and FAQ: Ed.gov press release
Posted: February 3, 2012
When you visit literacy.nationaldb.org you will find strategies, examples and resources that build on communication as the foundation for early literacy and move children along a continuum toward ever-increasing skill levels.
Posted: January 6, 2012
On December 23rd, OSEP released its 30th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Posted: January 6, 2012
a new report summarizing current approaches in the 46 states with anti-bullying laws and the 41 states that have created anti-bullying policies as models for schools. Read More about the Dept. of Ed Press release.
Posted: March 16, 2011
On March 16, 2011, U.S. Secretary of Education announced that the Department would be moving away from the 2 percent proxy rule in assessing students with disabilities, saying that students with disabilities should be judged with the same accountability system as everyone else. 
