Tag Archive for 'News'

Sad story that echoes fears of malfeasance

Published on 7 May 2012 in Administration, News and Public Policy. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

In “Ex-principal: ‘Never really told the truth’ to special ed parents—
Ex-principal: I lied to parents of special-needs kids,” Shannon Mullen of the Ashbury Park (NJ, US) Press recounts a story about Sheldon Boxer, a former school administrator who says that, as a means to save funds, he misrepresented the needs of students with disabilities and the capacity of schools to serve them. Mr. Boxer accuses an attorney working with the local education agency of leading the effort without every actually issuing an edict that the purpose was to hold down costs.

Ms. Mullen captures some he-said, he-said in her story as well as some human interest (a case of a child with substantial special education needs whose parents contend say he was not provided appropriate services). You can read Ms. Mullen’s report of this sad special education story in its original form (or snag this single-page version).

10th Sprout Film Festival

Published on 26 February 2012 in News and The Press. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The tenth annual Sprout Film Festival will be showcasing 53 films related to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities from 13 countries. The festival will take place Friday 27 April – Sunday 29 April 2012 in NYC at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Please visit the Sprout Web Site for the schedule of films and trailers. (For folks in the SpedPro neighborhood, remember that there’s a central Virginia Sprout Festival on 9 March 2012 hosted by PREP, the Parent Resource Center, Very Special Arts, International Organization on Arts and Disability.)

Free Streams: New films are continually added to the national Sprout site. Check out these latest films that can be streamed for free:

Lastly, please take a look at the schedule for the Sprout Touring Film Festival.

US report on testing accommodations

Published on 11 January 2012 in News, Public Policy, Research and The Press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

In November the US Government Accounting Office (GAO) released a report entitled “Improved Federal Enforcement Needed to Better Protect Students’ Rights to Testing Accommodations” of a study it performed at the behest of representatives to the US Congress. Based on interviews with individuals with disabilities, educators, advocates, commercial testing companies, and others, the report provides brief insight into testing accommodations at the secondary and post-secondary level and recommendations for government action based on its findings. Interested readers may download a one-page summary of the report from the GAO office.

Deborah Speece Appointed Commissioner of National Center for Special Education Research

Published on 23 August 2011 in News, Public Policy and Research. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

D. Speece 2004

Deborah L. Speece was named as the Commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) on 23 August 2011. NCSER is the leading branch of the US government’s effort to study educational innovation in special education and, as its head, Commissioner Speece will oversee a program that funds scores of research efforts including projects, evaluations, and multi-site centers throughout the US. She is the second commissioner of NCSER, and her appointment was greeted with substantial approval by the special education research community.

IES Director John Q. Easton announced the appointment of Deborah Speece as Commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) effective August 23, 2011. Known for her innovative studies of the classification and diagnosis of learning disabilities, Speece is a national leader in special education research and response to intervention strategies.
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Full US IDEA funding proposed again

Published on 23 July 2011 in Administration, News, Public Policy and The Press. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Over on On Special Education Nirvi Shah reported that Senator Tom Harkin and colleagues once again introduced a bill proposing that the US federal government pay its full (i.e., 40%) share of the costs of special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Read her post, “Bill Would Boost Federal Spending on Students with Disabilities.”

Prevalence of developmental disorders

Published on 28 June 2011 in News, Public Policy, Research and The Press. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Coleen Boyle and colleagues from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau reported in Pediatrics that, although data about the prevalence of developmental disabilities in the US are scarce, results from surveys conducted during the years 1997-2008 reveal that disabilities are both common and their prevalence is changing. Some results would surprise few (e.g., boys were more frequently reported to have problems than girls), but other results might make people wonder (e.g., the prevalence of hearing disorders reportedly decreased).

Trends in the Prevalence of Developmental Disabilities in US Children, 1997–2008

OBJECTIVE: To fill gaps in crucial data needed for health and educational planning, we determined the prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children and in selected populations for a recent 12-year period.
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Assistant Executive Director at CEC

Published on 27 June 2011 in Administration, Positions in orgs, Professional development and The Press. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) annouced a search for an individual to serve as an assistant executive director and take responsibility for leading the team at CEC that provides professional development services. CEC’s Professional Development Services Team covers a host of important activities at CEC, including the convention, continuing education (e.g., the popular “Webinars”), publications (including the journals such as Exceptional Children), and much more. CEC is seeking someone with an advanced degree and experience in special education.

This is an unusual opportunity to provide leadership in one of the leading organizations focused on special education in the world. It comes at a time when professional development services are changing rapidly and CEC can play an important role in contributing to postive progress for special educators and the children, youth, and families they serve.

Learn more about the position of Assistant Executive Director for Professional Development Services at CEC by downloading a PDF announcing the position vacancy. Learn more about CEC and it’s professional development activities by visiting Professionl Development section of CEC’s Web site.

Milwaukee parents allege voucher program discriminates against students with disabilities

Published on 9 June 2011 in Administration, News, Public Policy and The Press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Should students with disabilities get to use vouchers, too? Should private schools have to accept them? Some parents say some private schools aren’t taking vouchers from students with disabilities and they are complaining.

Journalists reported that the parents of children with disabilities in Milwaukee (WI, US) and the American Civil Liberties Union have complained to the US Deaprtment of Justice that a Milwaukee school program permitting parents to choose schools discriminates against students with disabilities. According to the complaint, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program “discriminated against students with disabilities and segregated those students in one portion of the publicly funded educational system.” The statistical basis for the argument is that 1.6% of students in the voucher-supported schools have disabilities, but nearly 20% of the students in the public schools have disabilities.
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Kauffman’s ‘Science’ book recognized

Published on 13 May 2011 in Awards, Bookshelf, News and The Press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Toward a Science of Education: The Battle Between Rogue and Real Science by James M. Kauffman was named the winner in the Education/Academics section of 2011 International Book Awards (IBA). JPX Media Group announced the winners and finalists of the IBA on 11 May 2011 in Los Angeles (CA, US).

In his summary of his book, Professor Kauffman wrote
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Arizona on-line MA in special ed

Published on 9 March 2011 in Advanced training opportunities, News and Professional development. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

The University of Arizona announces a new, fully online MA in special education (General Studies). This 36-unit program includes courses on behavioral support, cultural and linguistic diversity, language development, special services, foundations, and research methods. Specialization areas include learning disabilities, sensory impairments, challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorder, or gifted students. Courses can be taken from anywhere in the country or anywhere in the world.

Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2011 semester. The program does not lead to teacher certification.

More information can be found at Arizona’s Online Master’s Degree in Special Education

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