Helping Parents and Advocates Improve
Educational Results for Children with Disabilities
Helping Parents and Advocates Improve
Educational Results for Children with Disabilities
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. 
Posted: February 3, 2011
Below is a memorandum from the Office of Special Education regarding the clarification between Response to Intervention (RTI) and an evaluation under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Read the RTI Memo
Posted: November 23, 2010
A new report from the Center for Disease Control indicates there was a 22% increase in parent-reported ADHD diagnosis between 2003 and 2007 and that nearly one in ten children had been diagnosed with ADHD in 2007. More>>>
Posted: November 18, 2010
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will address a celebration recognizing the 35th anniversary of the law now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) -- the landmark civil rights measure which today provides America's 6.6 million children and youth with disabilities with the right to a free appropriate public education.
The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18th in the Kennedy Caucus Room, 325 Russell Senate Office Building at the U.S. Capitol. Read More >>>
Posted: November 10, 2010
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan released the U.S. Department of Education’s plan for transforming American education through technology, a process that would create an engaging state-of-the-art, cradle-to-college school system nationwide. Read More >>>
Posted: November 1, 2010
The October 29, 2010 Federal Register included the most recent list of quarterly correspondence from the U.S. Department of Education providing interpretations of requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its regulations. Following is a summary of the letters for April 1 – June 30, 2010. The letters will be available online: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/index.html.
Part B--Assistance for Education of All Children With Disabilities
Section 612--State Eligibility
Topic Addressed: Free Appropriate Public Education
Topic Addressed: Children in Private Schools
Topic Addressed: State Educational Agency General Supervisory Authority
Topic Addressed: Maintenance of State Financial Support
Section 613--Local Educational Agency Eligibility
Topic Addressed: Maintenance of Effort
Topic Addressed: Use of Federal Funds
Section 614--Evaluations, Eligibility Determinations, Individualized Education Programs, and Educational Placements
Topic Addressed: Evaluations, Parental Consent, and Reevaluations
Posted: September 20, 2010
President Barack Obama delivered his second annual Back to School Speech on September 14, 2010, encouraging students to be committed to their educations.
Posted: September 16, 2010
The National Center to Inform Policy and Practice in Special Education Professional Development (NCIPP) has published 29 Induction Insights that summarize research on ways to support new special educators as they enter the workforce and become integrated in a school. The briefs are organized by audience: administrators, policymakers, teacher educators, beginning educators, and parents.
Posted: May 14, 2010
This new tool from the U.S. Department of Labor helps employers easily determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business or organization and their responsibilities under those laws.
Posted: September 10, 2009
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be speaking in a live, interactive discussion with parents September 15 from 8-9 pm EDT (7pm CDT, 6pm MDT, 5pm PDT). The town hall meeting will be televised on local government and PBS channels and also via webcast.
Fact Sheet from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law about the Forest Grove v. T.A. U.S. Supreme Court case involving IDEA and residential treatment.
The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) has posted relevant resources on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The Personnel Center assists states to recruit, prepare, and retain diverse highly qualified special education, early intervention, and related personnel. Find out about their latest activities by visiting their web site.
A Guide to Special Education Advocacy by Matthew Cohen provides readers with an overview of current disability law and how it works, identifying practical ways for building positive and effective relationships with schools.
The U.S. Department of Education has recently released the 28th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The U.S. Department of Education recently released non-regulatory guidance to assist states and districts in implementing school choice and supplemental education services (SES) provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
School Choice Guidance
SES Guidance
National Inclusive Schools Week will be celebrated December 1-5, 2008 around the theme Together We Learn Better: Inclusive Schools Benefit All Children. Check out the Web site for activities and awareness materials or to sign up to become a partnering organization.
The most current list of quarterly correspondence policy documents from the Office of Special Education Programs was announced in the November 13 Federal Register. Topics include child find, disproportionality, discipline, and others.
The IRIS Center has released 2 new training modules on Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) - A Reading Strategy for Grades K-1 and A Reading Strategy for High School. Both modules provide teachers research-based information and strategies for implementing PALS techniques in their classrooms.
The National Council on Disability (NCD) recently released a report titled The Rehabilitation Act: Outcomes for Transition-Age Youth. This report is a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the Rehabilitation Act on the employment and postsecondary education outcomes of eligible transition-age youth.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, together with the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, set in motion policy changes that have allowed many thousands of children and youth with disabilities in the United States the opportunity to gain the educational and vocational skills needed to transition to living, working, and participating as adults in community life.
On October 29, 2008, the U.S. Department of Education released final regulations to clarify provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act. The regulations cover several areas, including calculation of graduation rates, parent notification of school choice and supplemental educational services options, and state and district reporting requirements.
The U.S. Department of Education has posted reports summarizing States' responses to special education indicators such as graduation rates, parent involvement, and least restrictive environment. Part B and Part C summary documents are available.
