SpedPro

Project Forum documents

By JohnL on Mar. 31, 2007.

Paula J. Burdette, Ph.D., of Project Forum at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, reported the release of the following new Project Forum documents. These materials are prepared under Federal Cooperative Agreement H326F050001 and are designed to be useful for special education professionals who prepare initiatives, develop technical assistance plans, design policy, and so forth.

* Reporting on State Assessment Data for Students with
Disabilities: Synthesis of the 2007 NCEO Report

* This In-Brief Policy Analysis is a synthesis of a detailed document produced by the National Center on Educational Outcomes in which they conducted nine analyses of the public reporting of state assessment results for students with disabilities. Results show that all 50 states reported some disaggregated general assessment results for students with disabilities; 36 reported participation and performance data for all general assessments; 12 reported participation and performance for some general assessments; and two reported only performance data for all tests. More states reported all assessment data publicly for assessments that are considered for NCLB accountability. This synthesis document summarizes assessment performance, trends and other information. Recommendations for reporting are given.

* Public and Parent Reporting Requirements: NCLB and IDEA
Regulations

This In-Depth Policy Analysis lists the requirements in the No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regulations separately. State reports, additional public information and reporting to parents are each explained separately for IDEA regulations. Similarities and differences between NCLB and IDEA and concluding remarks are included.

Visit the Project Forum Web site www.projectforum.org.

WVU faculty search

By JohnL on Mar. 14, 2007.

WVU Open Faculty Search - Applicants Sought for SPED Position
The Department of Special Education at West Virginia University has a search still open for the following position:

Level: Assistant Professor

Specialization: Multicategorical Mild Disabilities
(emphasis on academic assessment and intervention)

Review Date: APRIL 25

We are accepting additional applications in our effort to find the right candidate to join our young and dynamic faculty and help us expand this NCATE accredited and CEC recognized program over the next several years. WVU is a Doctoral Research-Extensive institution with an enrollment of over 25,000 students and a 2010 strategic plan that emphasizes several exciting research initiatives. In addition to its strong doctoral program in special education that prepares teacher educators school administrators, the College of Human Resources is now adding a Ph.D. option which will focus on the preparation of educational researchers. It is truly an exciting time to be at WVU.

This nine-month, tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level will involve teaching courses in the 5 year teacher education program, the graduate certification and degree program, and ultimately in the doctoral program, using both face-to-face and online instruction. The position also requires advising students, collaborating with other faculty on program development, conducting research and securing external funding, and service to public schools and community agencies as well as to the university and the profession. The ideal candidate is someone who has knowledge and skill in assisting students with mild disabilities in accessing the general education curriculum and teaching and assessing learning in reading, math or other academic content areas, and implementing inclusive schooling practices.

Individuals who will have an earned doctorate in special education by August 2007 and at least 2 years of experience working as a special educator with students with disabilities may apply for this position. They should send a electronic copy of an application letter and their vita to me at Barbara.Ludlow @ mail.wvu.edu [remove spaces from address] and fax three (3) letters of support to me at 304-293-6834 OR contact me via email or phone at 304-293-3835 to obtain more information.

Several of our faculty will be at the CEC meeting in Louisville if anyone would like to discuss this position or the WVU program with us prior to the application submission deadline.

Beginning Career Research Workshop

By JohnL on Mar. 13, 2007.

Attention Beginning Special Education Faculty

The Division for Research, Council for Exceptional Children, is hosting a Beginning Career Research Workshop at the Annual CEC meeting in Louisville, KY, Friday, April 20, 8:30: to 4:45.

The workshop is intended primarily for tenure accruing faculty in the first four years of their career. Strategies for becoming tenured, publishing papers, writing grants, and establishing a research/scholarship agenda will be discussed by nationally-recognized special education faculty members with successful records in managing externally-funded research projects and teaching. Attention will also be given to balancing career and personal responsibilities. Specifically, there will be four panel sessions during the workshop with ample time for questions and answers.

Panel 1: Balancing teaching, research, and service: Issues related to tenure & promotion

Panel 2: Writing for publication: Research-based & practitioner journals

Panel 3: Grant writing (large & small/foundations/federal)

Panel 4: Establishing your research/scholarship agenda

Twenty participants will be selected to attend this informative all-day workshop including lunch. Each participant will be provided with a $100 stipend to assist in covering costs of attending the CEC convention.

Applicants must send a vita, a 1 page nomination letter from their department chair or a senior faculty member, and a 1-page application letter describing research, teaching, and career goals.

The application packet should also include 4 brief questions (one per panel) that the applicant would like to have answered during the workshop. Applications are due by March 30, and attendees will be notified by April 6. Preference will be given to faculty in tenure accruing positions. NOTE: Those faculty selected will be expected to attend the workshop in its entirety.

Send electronic application materials (word or pdf format) to [close spaces in address]: DRworkshop @ coe.ufl.edu

Questions contact, Stephen W. Smith, Ph.D.
Department of Special Education
University of Florida
swsmith @ coe.ufl.edu [close spaces in address]

NOTE: After selection, all attendees must be members of the Division
for Research, Council for Exceptional Children

Winklemans’ day in court

By jmittler on Mar. 1, 2007.

The New York Times reports the hearing before the Supreme Court yesterday about the rights of parents to represent their child in a Federal Court. While it may have little to do with the actual education of any child, I always find it fascinating when our nice, tightly defined special education system, for which most folks outside of those involved don’t give a hill of beans, actually impacts the great big world out there. So it is with this case with the following issues reported in the article:
Read the rest of this entry »