Dr. Norena Hale will be representing NCRRC at the upcoming Response to Intervention (RtI) Summit in Washington, DC from December 6-7, 2007. Dr. Hale has worked with the Comprehensive Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education to address issues related RtI implementation within Region 4 States. As part of the RtI Summit, Dr. Hale will serve as a facilitator for a State in the development of an RtI action plan. She will also be provided with information that will benefit Region 4 States with regard to developing a process of developing a shared vision, understanding capacity and resources, and furthering work to implement RTI. Her work in this area will also contribute to her current efforts in working with the Comprehensive Centers in Region 4. Read more about the RtI Summit here.
Posted on: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
New Data for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Information Services provided reports in response to 6 Information Requests in November. The following list describes the requests, using the descriptor terms from the Matrix thesaurus as an organizing device. Attached is a list of the actual questions as well. Please feel free to contact the Coordinator of Information Services, Chris Rogers, at
if you would like further information about these searches. 1. Standards, IEP, Training 2. Procedural safeguards, Parent notices, Native language 3. Early intervening, Data management, LEA 4. Child find, Public awareness, Part B, Part C 5. Monitoring, Underrepresentation, LEA 6. Outcomes, Transition, Performance goals
Information Services provided reports in response to 12 Information Requests in October. The following list describes the requests, using the descriptor terms from the Matrix thesaurus as an organizing device. Attached is a list of the actual questions as well. Please feel free to contact the Coordinator of Information Services, Chris Rogers, at
if you would like further information about these searches. 1. Data management, WWW 2. SPP, Part B, Part C, SEA 3. LD, Identification, Regulations, SEA 4. Dispute resolution, Due process, Hearing systems 5. Monitoring, Compliance, Policy 6. Part C, Home visits, Service delivery 7. IEP, Standards 8. Monitoring, Data management, LEA 9. Evaluation, Eligibility, LEA, Part B 10. Funding, SEA 11. ITP, Postsecondary education, Interagency, Best practices 12. Monitoring, FAPE, Definition, Compliance
Posted on: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Evidence-based Secondary Transition Practices
The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) has posted a variety of resources pertaining to Evidence-Based Practices in secondary transition and on the procedures used in their review process of the resources. There will be updates to this link bi-monthly with additional resources.
Posted on: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
New Research Synthesis on Early Childhood Inclusion
The National Professional Development Center on Inclusion (NPDCI) has recently published a document entitled Research Synthesis on Early Childhood Inclusion. The document includes 9 key conclusions on Early Childhood Inclusion along with complete citations for the research that backs up these conclusions. There is also a helpful page of definition of terms included. The synthesis can be downloaded for free in PDF format here.
Posted on: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Parent Participation in State Monitoring
NASDSE’s Project Forum has a new In-Brief Policy Analysis by Eileen Ahearn entitled “Parent Participation in State Monitoring.” One of the most interesting findings of this study was that 16 out of 37 responding states have parents on their monitoring teams. Benefits and challenges of having parents on monitoring teams are addressed as well.
Posted on: Thursday, October 25, 2007
New Publication on RtI from NASDSE
The National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) has assembled an annotated bibliography of research on Response to Intervention (RtI). This 233 page document is intended to serve as a complement to NASDSE’s earlier book, Response to Intervention: Policy Considerations and Implementation. A free copy of this book can be found online here, or can be ordered by completing and faxing this form.
Posted on: Thursday, October 25, 2007
Registration Open for 2007 OSEP National Early Childhood Conference
Registration has been opened for the 2007 OSEP National Early Childhood Conference on December 3-5, 2007. It will be held at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, VA, with pre-conference meetings and workshops on December 1 and 2. The goals of the conference are to review and discuss the current requirements under IDEA for Part C and Section 619 and potential implications of new regulations, to gain a better understanding of research findings and evidence-based practices from U.S. Department of Education initiatives, and to acquire resources and build relationships for the use of data and collective partnerships. Participants will include: state Part C coordinators and staff; state Section 619 coordinators and staff; state ICC chairs, members, and staff; Early Childhood Projects staff; national, regional, state TA providers; parents in state/regional/national leadership positions; and partners from the early childhood community. More information can be found at the above link.
Posted on: Tuesday, October 2, 2007
NDPC-SD Presents Teleseminar on Dropout Policy Impact
The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities is presenting a telephone seminar entitled “The Impact of Policies and Procedures on Dropout and School Completion” on Tuesday, October 16 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). This teleseminar examines selected policies and proposed remedies implemented by several education agencies. It is designed for state and local education agency personnel, policymakers and others concerned with policies that impact school completion. This teleseminar is free to State Directors of Special Education, OSEP/OSERS, and Regional Parent Information Centers, and one can register by calling 1-800-775-7654 or sending an e-mail to
for more information
OSEP established a Dispute Resolution Cluster Group, facilitated by CADRE, to compile and present information on APR/SPP activities. At the August 2007 OSEP Leadership Conference, Cluster Group members presented information on Dispute Resolution activities reported by states and resources available from the OSEP TA & D network. Michigan was featured, with Ann Omans presenting, on the exemplary work being done with its dispute resolution system. More information can be found at the above link.
Posted on: Tuesday, October 2, 2007
NIUSI Hosts Colloquium to Coauthor Book about Systemic Urban Reform
On October 28-30, the National Institute for Urban School Improvement is hosting a working colloquium in Crystal City with a small group of practitioners and researchers. OSEP Project Officer Anne Smith is leading this group in the development of a book about systemic urban reform. Other NIUSI publications can be downloaded at the above link.
The fourth 2% Regulation TA teleconference has been set for September 20, 2007, from 1-2 p.m. EDT. Presented by the U.S. Department of Education and the University of Maryland with the National Center on Educational Outcomes moderating, the conferences are intended to provide updates on the field of 2% regulations and development of assessments based on modified academic achievement standards, as well as responding to questions regarding 2% standards. The September call will continue where the August call left off on identification of 2% students, and the role of the IEP team. Participants are encouraged to submit written questions on standards-based IEPs to 2%
by September 17. To dial in, call 866-323-2841. The conference ID is 12497125.
Posted on: Monday, September 17, 2007
September 18 Exiting Teleconference Postponed
The teleconference planned for September 18 on Check and Connect has been postponed indefinitely. Plans are being made to hold the teleconference at a later time in order to allow schools more time to determine if they have dropout issues.
Posted on: Monday, September 17, 2007
Recent Information Requests Submitted to NCRRC
Information Services provided reports in response to 8 Information Requests in August. The following list describes the requests, using the descriptor terms from the Matrix thesaurus as an organizing device. Attached is a list of the actual questions as well. Please feel free to contact the Coordinator of Information Services, Chris Rogers, at
if you would like further information about these searches. 1. SEA, Administrators, RRC 2. LEA, Management, Performance goals 3. Accommodations, Large scale assessment, Research 4. Speech impairments, Eligibility, Evaluation, SEA 5. BD, Functional behavioral assessment, Behavior intervention plan 6. Disproportionate representation, LEA, Policy, Procedures 7. Part C, BIA, SEA, Collaboration 8. Early intervening, SEA
Posted on: Monday, September 17, 2007
Forum on Positive Behavioral Supports
The 2007 National Forum for Initial and Advanced Implementers of School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions & Support - Planning for Systems Change will be held in Rosemount, IL from October 10-12, 2007. The forum will include examples, processes, and new findings related to school-wide positive behavior supports. The program plan can be viewed by clicking here. Registration can be completed at this link.
Posted on: Thursday, August 30, 2007
CELL Selects States to Receive Specialized Technical Assistance
The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) is funded by OSEP to synthesize research on early literacy learning. CELL is beginning the process of selecting states to receive specialized technical assistance (TA) in the upcoming year. TA will be offered in two forms: CELL Information Sharing Communities and CELL Statewide Training Assistance. Applications must be received by October 31, 2007. To learn more about CELL specialized TA and how to apply go to the above link.
Posted on: Thursday, August 30, 2007
NASDSE's New Project Forums
Project Forum has recently released two new policy analyses: (1) Standards-Based Individualized Education Program Examples by Marla Holbrook; and (2) State Definitions of Significant Disproportionality by Paula Burdette; These documents can be found at the Project Forum site here. Project Forum’s aim is to facilitate improved services to children and youth with disabilities by gathering and sharing information that supports changes to policy and practice at the national, state and local levels.
Posted on: Thursday, August 30, 2007
NECTAC’s New Publications
The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) has recently provided two new publications on their website. They are: (1) a 2007 update on the Section 619 Profile (15th Edition) edited by Alex Lazara, Joan Danaher, and Robert Kraus; and (2) Part C Updates (9th Edition) edited by Joan Danaher, Sue Good, and Alex Lazara. Both can be found at their respective links.
Posted on: Thursday, August 30, 2007
Upcoming Exiting Community Teleconferences
There are 4 upcoming Exiting - Part B Community of Practice teleconferences scheduled for Fall 2007. For current information go to their website by clicking here. To participate, dial 866-393-8073 and enter *2830894* (including the asterisks). (1) The "Putting the ‘I’ in the IEP" teleconference will be held on Thursday, August 30th from 2:00-3:00pm (CDT) and will be led by Dr. Robert Stodden and Dr. Kelly Roberts, University of Hawai’i at Manoa; (2) The "Data Collection for Program Improvement" teleconference will be held on Wednesday, September 5th from 1:00-2:00pm (CDT) and will be led by Ed O’Leary, Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center; (3) The "Check and Connect: An Evidence-Based Strategy for Improving Graduation Rates" teleconference will be held on Tuesday, September 18th from 1:00-2:00pm (CDT) and will be led by Dr. Sandra Christenson, University of Minnesota; (4) Finally, the "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Improvement Strategies" teleconference will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd from 1:00-2:00pm (CDT) and will be led by Dr. Michael Sharpe, North Central Regional Resource Center.
Posted on: Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Recent Information Requests Submitted to NCRRC
Information Services provided reports in response to 6 Information Requests in July. The following list describes the requests, using the descriptor terms from the Matrix thesaurus as an organizing device. Attached is a list of the actual questions as well. Please feel free to contact the Coordinator of Information Services, Chris Rogers, at
if you would like further information about these searches. 1. Funding, Fiscal management, LEA 2. Parent professional partnership, Training, Survey 3. IEP, Consent 4. Maintenance, Funding, Fiscal management 5. Monitoring, LEA 6. Funding, Low incidence disabilities
Posted on: Wednesday, August 15, 2007
DEC Annual International Conference
The Division of Early Childhood (DEC) will be holding their 23rd Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families conference from October 25-28, 2007 at the Sheraton on the Falls and Brock Plaza in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The sessions and workshops at this conference are intended to focus on a variety of issues for individuals that work with children of special needs and their families. Additional information about the conference, as well as registering information can be found at the above link.
PACER Center (a National Center based in Minnesota) has drafted a new brief in collaboration with the National Post-School Outcomes Center (NPSO). This brief discusses a survey of students who have already transitioned out of special education. Examples of survey questions and how results from the survey can help improve secondary education and transition are also included.
Posted on: Wednesday, August 1, 2007
DEC's Final Comments on Proposed IDEA Part C Regulations
The Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Early Childhood (DEC) has submitted its final comments on the Part C Notice of Proposed Rule Making. They are available online by clicking here. The deadline for comments was July 23, 2007.
Posted on: Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Measuring Child and Family Outcomes - NECTAC National TA Meeting
Registration is now open for the Measuring Child and Family Outcomes NECTAC National TA Meeting, including Part C and Section 619 Coordinators Meetings, August 26-29, 2007, in Baltimore, MD. This TA meeting will provide opportunities for participants to learn about other states' strategies for measuring child and family outcomes, hear the latest guidance from the Early Childhood Outcomes Center and OSEP, and discuss common challenges and effective practices. For more information on this conference or to register for the conference, go to the above link.
Information Services provided reports in response to 10 Information Requests in June. The following list describes the requests, using the descriptor terms from the Matrix thesaurus as an organizing device. Attached is a list of the actual questions as well. Please feel free to contact the Coordinator of Information Services, Chris Rogers, at
if you would like further information about these searches. 1. Modifications, Assessment 2. Transition, Postsecondary education, IEP, Regulations 3. RtI, Management 4. Consultant 5. Monitoring, LEA, Self assessment 6. State advisory panels 7. RtI, Consultants 8. Monitoring, LEA, Training, Professional development 9. Monitoring, IEP, Service delivery 10. Funding, Accessibility, IEU
Posted on: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Resolution Meetings: A Guide for Parents
The Technical Assistance ALLIANCE for Parent Centers National Technical Assistance Center and the Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) have produced a short document entitled Resolution Meetings: A Guide for Parents. The guide provides information about how disagreements about special education services between parents and schools may be resolved via early dispute resolution.
Posted on: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
NECTAC Notes 24 released: Eligibility for Young Children under IDEA Part B
The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) has released their latest issue of NECTAC Notes, Eligibility Policies and Practices for Young Children under Part B of IDEA. This document analyzes definitions of developmental delay and summarizes eligibility classifications and criteria for Part B by the states. It can be found at the above link online in PDF format.
Posted on: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
New Product from NDPC-SD
The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) is pleased to announce the following OSEP approved document Collecting Post-School Outcome Data: Strategies for Increasing Response Rates, prepared in partnership with the National Post-School Outcomes Center (NPSO) at the University of Oregon. In this document, Drs. Sandra Covington Smith and Loujeania Williams Bost from NDPC-SD provide an overview of the IDEA requirements to collect post-school outcome data, challenges faced by states in collecting these data, and recommended strategies from survey literature and state and local practice to secure sufficient response rates, especially from youth who drop out of school.
Posted on: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
New RAND Study on Standards-Based Accountability
The RAND Corporation has released a new study report entitled Standards-Based Accountability Under No Child Left Behind Experiences of Teachers and Administrators in Three States. A study and comparison of policies, practices, and experiences in California, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, it focuses on how accountability policies have been acted upon and are considered at the district, school, and classroom levels. According to the authors, the study was designed to identify factors leading to the improved implementation of standards-based accountability systems, foster change in school and classroom practice, and promote improved student achievement. It can be found for free at the above link.
Posted on: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Tools for Promoting Educational Success and Reducing Delinquency
The Juvenile Justice/Special Education Shared Agenda, a joint project between the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), has released a new collection of information entitled Tools for Promoting Success and Reducing Delinquency (Tools for Success). This compendium collects best practices to further the educational stability of youth at risk of developing or already having disabilities. It includes research-based effective practices for meeting the needs of these students, including in early identification and intervention. Intended for teachers and administrators, it can be found at the above link.
Posted on: Tuesday, July 10, 2007
New Multimedia Presentations from NECTAC
The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) has released new multimedia presentations on Challenging Behavior and Vulnerable Populations. These presentations are collected from several conference calls held by the center. The presentation on Challenging Behavior concerns social, emotional, and behavioral development and outcomes in young children, while those on Vulnerable Populations concern identification and services. All presentations can be found at the above link.
Posted on: Tuesday, July 10, 2007
ECO Center Released Updated State Activity Maps and Matrices
The Early Childhood Outcomes Center has published updated versions of their state activity tables, matrices, and maps on their website. Based on information reported by Part B/619 and Part C coordinators as of June 28, these documents illustrate how various states plan to meet the OSEP reporting requirements on child and family outcomes. Information on child outcomes can be found here, while information on family outcomes is available here.
Posted on: Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Building the Legacy: A Training Curriculum on IDEA 2004
A new training curriculum for IDEA 2004 has been released by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY). Entitled Building the Legacy, it is intended to provide training materials for IDEA and the final Part B regulations. It has been organized into five themes, including a welcome and basic primer of changes to IDEA 2004, IDEA and general education, evaluation of children for disabilities, IEPs, and procedural safeguards. These themes in turn contain nineteen training modules relevant to the topic. Seven modules are available at the above link at present, and more will be made available by the close of Summer 2007.
Posted on: Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Connecting the Dots: C to B Transition Training
"Connecting the Dots" is an online C to B transition training, developed by the North Central Regional Resource Center and the Iowa Department of Education. This training is designed to assist Service Coordinators, LEA staff, and parents in understanding aspects of early childhood transition, including: IDEA 2004, State Policies and Procedures, Roles and Responsibilities, Recommended Practices, Relationships with Families, and Iowa-specific transition information. The NCRRC conducted its first training with Iowa personnel last week. If you would like more information on this web-based training please contact Ann Bailey at
.
Posted on: Tuesday, June 26, 2007
NCRRC Visits Vietnam
Last winter, Dr. Yen Thi Hoang Nguyen, Dean of Special Education Faculty at the Hanoi University of Education, and Director of the Training and Development Center for Special Education in Hanoi, visited the North Central Regional Resource Center (NCRRC) for a week as part of her Fulbright Fellowship in the United States. Staff of the NCRRC worked with Dr. Nguyen to explore issues in regional resource center implementation and operation, with the prospect of implementation of similar regional resource centers in provinces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to support the educational inclusion of children and youth with disabilities. As a follow up to this meeting, Tom Delaney and Tri Tran, on scholarship, are currently spending two weeks in Vietnam to continue work around possible implementation of the Regional Resource Model for technical assistance in Vietnam. Tom and Tri are working with faculty at Hanoi University of Education and will be teaching a few classes while in Hanoi.
Posted on: Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Recent Information Requests Submitted to NCRRC
Information Services provided reports in response to six Information Requests in May. The following list describes the requests, using the descriptor terms from the Matrix thesaurus as an organizing device. Attached is a list of the actual questions as well, available at the preceding link. Please feel free to contact the Coordinator of Information Services, Chris Rogers, at
if you would like further information about these searches. 1. Parent education, Funding, IEP 2. SIG, Personnel preparation 3. IEP 4. Monitoring 5. RtI, Collaboration, General education, Service delivery 6. Public relations, Outcomes, Multicultural, ELL
Posted on: Tuesday, June 26, 2007
NASDSE’s New Project Forums
Project Forum has recently released four new policy analyses: (1) Part C Technical Assistance: State Approaches; (2) Involvement of Youth with Disabilities in State-Level Decision Making; (3) Mentoring Programs for Special Education Teachers: State Approaches; and (4) INTASC Principles: How They are Addressed by Five Specialty Program Association Standards. These documents can be found at the Project Forum site here. Project Forum’s aim is to facilitate improved services to children and youth with disabilities by gathering and sharing information that supports changes to policy and practice at the national, state and local levels.
Posted on: Tuesday, June 26, 2007
New IDEA Part C Regulations Side-by-Side from CEC
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), in conjunction with its Division on Early Childhood (DEC) and the Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA), has released a new resource to help readers understand the IDEA Part C proposed regulations released on May 9. This side-by-side comparison of the current IDEA Part C regulations to the 2007 proposed Part C regulations is intended to serve as a tool to assist readers in preparing their own analysis related to the Part C proposed regulations. There are six sections, relating to general provisions, grant applications and procedures for states, program and service components for early intervention, procedural safeguards, state administration, and state interagency coordinating councils. These may be found at the above link.
Posted on: Wednesday, June 6, 2007
ECO Q&A: Outcomes 101
The Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) Center has published a new FAQ pertaining to childhood outcomes. It gives brief answers to many questions that are frequently asked of state staff, parent centers, and others regarding the child and family outcomes measurement process. The FAQ is divided into multiple sections including Outcomes and Federal Reporting, Child Outcomes Summary Form, and Family Outcomes Survey. The FAQ can be found at the above link.
Posted on: Wednesday, June 6, 2007
NCCRESt Cultural Certification Training Available
The second of two NCCRESt cultural certification training sessions will be held June 19-21 in Denver, CO. Each training session is intended to help participants understand culture and diversity and its effects, especially in the context of the educational system. Participants will be able to define culture, understand the development of a culturally responsive perspective and pedagogy, consider the impact of culture on the individual and system alike, learn the consequences of cultural unresponsiveness, understand the power of words and labels, and develop a perspective of diversity. The cost for registration is $499 per person. Information can be found at the above link.
Posted on: Wednesday, June 6, 2007
New Version of SPP Dashboards are Now Available
The SPP Part B and C dashboards presented during the NCRRC’s regional call on Strategies for Public Reporting have recently been updated and made available on the SPP Directory web site. The demos illustrate how progress on SPP targets can be reported using icons and metaphors known as a dashboard. Dashboards are a new, innovative technology that utilizes maps, gauges, thermometers, charts, and tables to present complex data, permitting dynamic representation and comparison in an intuitive manner. This method for public reporting goes beyond the use of “static” reports and charts to present complex data sets effectively and in a manner that can be easily understood to a wide range of audiences—regardless of their prior training in the use and interpretation of data. To access the dashboards, click on the link above. You will need a security access code to log into the web site. To obtain the login information, please contact Maureen Hawes at
.
Posted on: Tuesday, May 15, 2007
NASDSE’s New Project Forums on Response to Intervention (RtI)
(1) Response to Intervention as it Relates to Early Intervening Services: Recommendations This Policy Forum Proceeding documents the process participants followed to describe barriers to implementation of Response to Intervention (RtI) as an Early Intervening Service (EIS), policy recommendations to address these barriers and implementation considerations. An introduction to the national perspective on RtI as it relates to EIS begins the document and closing remarks are included.
(3). Response to Intervention and Early Intervening Services Policy Forum Presentation Project Forum held the Response to Intervention/Early Intervening Services Policy Forum October 30-31, 2006. The purpose of the forum was practitioner-generated policy recommendations to support effective implementation of RtI and EIS as approaches to improve both general and special education student achievement and achieve common ground around these approaches among the various stakeholders. Click on the title link above to download the OSEP opening presentation. This document is the presentation given at the opening of the forum by Dr. Lou Danielson from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs.
Posted on: Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Recent Information Requests Submitted to NCRRC
Information Services provided reports in response to six Information Requests in April. The actual queries are detailed in an online document here. The list below briefly identifies the requests, using the descriptor terms from the Matrix thesaurus as an organizing device. Please feel free to contact the Coordinator of Information Services, Chris Rogers, at
if you desire further information about these searches. 1. Discipline, Early intervening, Funding 2. Due process, Hearing systems 3. Transition, Handbook, Guidelines, IDEA 2004 4. Special Education Advisory Council, LEA 5. Surrogate parents, Parent education 6. IEP, Standards, Curriculum
Posted on: Tuesday, May 1, 2007
NCRRC Products and Publications Available Online
The North Central Regional Resource Center has made available past publications and products. Present offerings include the sample dashboards for Icons and Metaphors - Data Representation in Dashboard Format, the Early Childhood Newsletter, and a 2005 Medicaid Report. These can be found by selecting "Our Publications and Products" from the right menu or by clicking here.
Since 2004, the National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) has synthesized available research and practice in the area of dropout prevention for students with disabilities. Our efforts have yielded insights into why youth with disabilities drop out, the consequences faced by these youth, and effective prevention strategies. In the article Building Effective Dropout Preventions Programs by Dr. Loujeania W. Bost, some of the key strategies and recommendations gleaned from research and practice are shared. These strategies and recommendations can be used by state or local administrators as well as educators to guide the development of dropout prevention programs for students with disabilities.
Posted on: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
NASDSE’s Project Forum on Highly Mobile Children and Youth with Disabilities: Policies and Practices in Five States
The term “highly mobile children and youth” is used to describe a broad population of individuals ages 6-21, who share the condition of having moved six or more times during their school years (Popp, Stronge, & Hindman, 2003). This document’s primary focus is on a subset of the population of mobile children—infants, preschoolers, children and youth with disabilities and their families who are highly mobile. First, a background section provides information about policies and practices developed for mobile children at the federal level under the McKinney-Vento Program. The second section is an analysis of interviews with five state directors of special education and their corresponding McKinney-Vento program coordinators regarding how states are addressing the needs of mobile children with disabilities. This report was completed by Project Forum at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education Directors (NASDSE) as part of its cooperative agreement with OSEP at the U.S. Department of Education. This Project Forum can viewed in PDF format at by clicking here.
Posted on: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Fact Sheets on Assistive Technology
The Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) is a resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. They offer a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies. The FCTD have four new Assistive Technology Fact Sheets available on their website here. The four topics include: (1) Glossary, (2) Assistive Technology 101, (3) Assistive Technology and the IEP, and (4) Assistive Technology Laws.
Posted on: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
IDEAs that Work #170 - Discretionary Projects Supported by OSEP (FY 2006)
The IDEAs that Work #170 – Discretionary Projects Supported by OSEP (FY 2006) have three directories that are included in the document: (1) Personnel Preparation, (2) Technical Assistance and Dissemination, Parent Training and Information, and State Improvement, and (3) Research and Innovation with Technology and Media Services. Teachers and related services professionals, trainers, administrators, policymakers, researchers, families, and others who are involved in the development and delivery of special education services may find these documents to be interesting. The directories were developed by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY). A limited number of copies are available in the OSEP Resource Room and can be obtained by contacting, Areta Edwards at 202-245-7332. For further information about obtaining a copy of the document, contact Robin Murphy in the RTP Division at 202-245-7457.
Posted on: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
NCRRC’s Strategies for Public Reporting Presentation Materials Now Available Online
On Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 10:00 AM (CST) the North Central Regional Resource Center (NCRRC) held a regional call on Strategies for Public Reporting. The Center specifically discussed Public Reporting in ways other than data profiles (i.e., one-pagers on topics, public meetings, briefs, etc.). NCRRC also presented dashboards as example of using “icons and metaphors” in which states can use as a strategy for their Public Reporting of the SPP indicators. The PowerPoint and SPP Part B indicator 9 and Part C indicators 1-2, 5-6, and 7-8 dashboards presented during the call have been made available online. Information on how to access the materials will be emailed to all the participants who were on the call. Anyone who is interested in viewing the materials but were not on the call, please contact Maureen Hawes at
.
Posted on: Monday, March 19, 2007
A Parent’s Guide to Response-to-Intervention (2006)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) includes a provision that allows states and school districts to use high quality, research-based instruction in general and special education to provide services and interventions to students who struggle with learning and may be at risk of or suspected of having learning disabilities. The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has written this Guide to provide an overview of the Response-to-Intervention process and its implementation and suggest questions that parents can ask about it. The guide is available in PDF (12 pages, 469 KB) format. Click here to download.
Posted on: Monday, March 19, 2007
Access Center Communities of Practice Webinar
The Access Center is having a webinar on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 from 1:00-2:00 PM (CST) that is part of the Access Center’s Information Sharing Communities (ISC) and focuses on Communities of Practice. Tolani A. Adeboye, a Senior Associate in Special Education at the Council of Chief State School Officers will present Harnessing the Power of Networks: A Guide to Communities of Practice for State & District Leaders. This webinar is free and open to the public. A recording of the webinar will be made available online following the presentation. To listen to the recording, click on the link above. For more information on the webinar, click here.
Posted on: Monday, March 19, 2007
IDEA 2004 Roadmap to the IEP
Wrightslaw has compiled information on their website that provides an overview of changes in the law about IEPs and IEP meetings under IDEA 2004 that is entitled IDEA 2004 Roadmap to the IEP: IEP Meetings, Content, Review & Revision, Placements, Transition & Transfers. Click on the preceding link to view the information. There are also many other related articles on special education and advocacy, IDEA 2004, legal issues, and other topics that users can view on the website.
Posted on: Monday, March 19, 2007
14th Joint National Conference on Alternatives to Expulsion, Suspension, and Dropping Out of School Now Accepting Presentation Proposal
Presentation proposals are being sought for the 14th Joint National Conference on Alternatives to Expulsion, Suspension, and Dropping Out of School, to be held January 31-February 1, 2008 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Proposals should describe the causes and problems related to expulsions, suspensions, and dropouts; share how schools across the country are dealing with students considered delinquent, violent, or dangerous; and/or describe interventions to either reduce the number of youth at risk of expulsion, suspension, and dropout or to return out-of-school youth to school or otherwise engage them in work and educational activities. Proposal submission deadline: April 1, 2007. To submit a proposal, click on the link above.
Posted on: Monday, March 19, 2007
NCRRC Hosts Teleconference on IEP/Changes in Initial Evaluation and Reevaluation
The NCRRC will be hosting a regional teleconference on IEP/Changes in Initial Evaluation and Reevaluation on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 10:00 AM (CST)/11:00am (EST). Larry Ringer from OSEP will be our presenter. He will provide the context from the regulations and preamble, walk through the relevant Q and A, and address the additional questions that were asked. There will be time after each section for the participants to ask questions. Please have copies of the Q and A document and the August 14, 2006 copy of the regulations, as you will need them for the presentation. The Q and A documents can be downloaded here. To join the call, please dial 1-866-393-8073 access code *2830894* (be sure to include the asterisks).
Posted on: Monday, March 19, 2007
NCRRC Hosts Teleconference on IEP/Changes in Initial Evaluation and Reevaluation
The NCRRC will be hosting a regional teleconference on IEP/Changes in Initial Evaluation and Reevaluation on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 10:00 AM (CST)/11:00am (EST). Larry Ringer, from OSEP, will be our presenter. He will provide the context from the regulations and preamble, walk through the relevant Q and A, and address the additional questions that were asked. There will be time after each section for the participants to ask questions. Please have copies of the Q and A document and the August 14, 2006 copy of the regulations, as you will need them for the presentation. The Q and A documents can be downloaded here. To join the call, please dial 1-866-393 -8073 access code *2830894* (be sure to include the asterisks).
Posted on: Wednesday, March 14, 2007
2007 NATTAP Conference Online Registration Now Available
The Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs (NATTAP), and the Autism Society of America (ASA) present the First Annual International NATTAP Conference hosted by the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) in Columbus, Ohio. The 2007 NATTAP Conference is scheduled for September 26-28, 2007, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). The conference will feature a variety of topics including IDEA, NCLB, Assessment, Autism, Transition, and many others. The NCRRC will have a booth at the event. You can view more information and pre-register online by clicking here or download the promotional flyer here.
New IDEA 2004 PowerPoint Presentations Now Available Online
The U.S. Department of Education has 8 PowerPoint presentations on their website pertaining to IDEA ’04. The topics include: (1) Discipline, (2) Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT), (3) IDEA Part B Regulations Overview, (4) IEP Team Changes/ Evaluation and Re-evaluation, (5) Monitoring, TA and Enforcement, (6) NIMAS, (7) Procedural Safeguards, (8) RTI/EIS. These documents can be viewed by clicking here.
Posted on: Wednesday, March 14, 2007
NCRRC Monthly Early Childhood Conference Call
The NCRRC will be hosting its monthly early childhood conference call on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at 10 a.m. CDT. Virginia Buysse and Pam Winton, from the Franklin Porter Graham Child Development Institute, will be presenting information on evidence-based practices and the new National Professional Development Center on Inclusion. To join the call, please dial 1-866-393-8073 access code *2830894* (include the asterisks). The Powerpoint presentation can be downloaded by clicking here.
Posted on: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
NSTTAC Announces Literature Review from the What Works Transition Research Synthesis Project
National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) is pleased to announce the posting of the literature review from the What Works Transition Research Synthesis Project on Teaching Functional Life Skills to Youth with Disabilities. An Executive Summary, the Full Text, and Research to Practice Lesson Plan Starters are all available on the NSTTAC website. The Research to Practice Lesson Plan Starters are based on nine "best-evidence" studies and can be found here. The nine "best-evidence" studies are on the following topics: (1) "One More Than" technique for purchasing items, (2) Savings account, bill paying, and money order skills, (3) Housekeeping and janitorial skills, (4) Meal planning and nutrition, (5) Purchasing skills (stores with aisles), (6) Cleaning appliances and doing laundry, (7) Grocery aisle signs and locating items, (8) Bowling and pinball, and (9) Orienting to the environment to reduce stereotypic behaviors.
Posted on: Monday, January 29, 2007
New NCLD Guide: A Parent’s Guide to Response-to-Intervention
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004) includes a new provision that allows states and school districts to use high quality, research-based instruction in general and special education to provide services and interventions to students who struggle with learning and may be at risk or suspected of having learning disabilities. The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has written this new Guide, A Parent's Guide to Response-to-Intervention (RTI), to provide an overview of the Response-to-Intervention process, describe how it is implemented in schools and offer questions that parents can ask. Click on the link to access the guide.
Posted on: Monday, January 29, 2007
National Studies Database Training NLTS2 and SEELS
From March 7-9, 2007 in Washington, DC, the University of Maryland in collaboration with SRI International and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) of the U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor an advanced training workshop using national study databases including the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) and the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study (SEELS) databases. There is no fee to attend this training workshop and support for travel and lodging will be provided to accepted applicants. If you have any questions about this workshop, you can view more information here. The application deadline for the seminar is February 19, 2007.
Posted on: Monday, January 29, 2007
Exiting Community of Practice to Host Teleconference: Career Planning Begins with Assessment and Responding to Employer’s Needs
There will be a teleconference on Thursday, January 25, at 1:00pm (CST) entitled Career Planning Begins with Assessment and Responding to Employer’s Needs. To successfully make the transition from school to adult life and the world of work, adolescents and young adults need guidance and encouragement from caring, supportive adults. Youth with disabilities need strategies to show employers how their needs will be met if they hire someone with a disability. This teleconference is based on materials found in the Career Planning Begins with Assessment: A Guide for Professionals Serving Youth with Educational and Career Development Challenges, available online. Click on the preceding link to download a copy. The call will be hosted by the Exiting Community of Practice with the NCRRC facilitating the call. In order to access this call, dial 1.866.393.8073 and enter the access code *2830894* (enter the asterisks before and after the code). The Powerpoint presentation is available by clicking here.
Posted on: Tuesday, January 23, 2007
NCRRC to Host Comprehensive Center Meeting: Collaborating to Assist Region 4 States
The NCRRC will be hosting a meeting February 21-22, 2007 with the five Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) regional Comprehensive Centers that serve the states in Region 4. The meeting will be a dialogue about regional technical assistance collaboration among the six centers. The purpose of the meeting will be to assess needs for the collaborative development of knowledge, skills, and leadership within the region, and to identify opportunities for partnerships in delivering desired technical assistance services to the states in Region 4.
Posted on: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
New Access Center Webinar!
The Access Center’s Early Mathematics Identification and Intervention Webinar is to be held on January 17 at 2:30 PM EDT. Presented by Dr. Diane P. Bryant, professor in the Learning Disabilities/Behavior Disorders program at the University of Texas in Austin, it will focus on identification of children with risk for mathematics problems and interventions to address deficiencies in foundation skills. More information is available at the above link.
Posted on: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
NLTS2 Data Now Available for Wave 1 and 2
Data for waves 1 and 2 of the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) are now available on CD-ROM in both SPSS and SAS formats. Information about obtaining this restricted-use data which requires a restricted-use data license is available on the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Documentation and a data dictionary are included on the CD-ROM.
Posted on: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Access Center Shares Online Resources and Training Modules
The Access Center hosted a meeting from January 9-11, 2007, in Washington, DC, to provide an overview of their online resources and training modules to TA&D Network and Comprehensive Center Staff. The training modules and materials include topics such as differentiated instruction, co-teaching/collaboration, and content-specific information for teaching math, science, and reading. These resources are currently available on the AIR website. Click here to access the materials.
Posted on: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
NCRRC to Host Comprehensive Center Meeting: Collaborating to Assist Region 4 States
The NCRRC will be hosting a meeting February 21-22, 2007 with the five Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) regional Comprehensive Centers that serve the states in Region 4. The meeting will be a dialogue about regional technical assistance collaboration between the six centers. The purpose of the meeting will be to assess needs for the collaborative development of knowledge, skills, and leadership within the region, and to identify opportunities for partnerships in delivering desired technical assistance services to the states in Region 4.
Posted on: Friday, January 12, 2007
Indicator 14 State Profile Database Online
The National Post-School Outcomes (PSO) Center has a state profile database that includes information that addresses data requirements for the SPP/APR to OSEP Indicator #14. The state profiles include a description of how each state currently collects and uses post-school outcome data, state contacts, links to related state materials (e.g. Web sites, survey instruments, reports), and much more. Use the link above to go to their website on state profiles.
Posted on: Friday, January 12, 2007
National Dropout Prevention Center Reports on SPP Data
The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) has created two reports on an analysis of State Performance Plan Data for Indicator 1 (Graduation) and Indicator 2 (Dropout) of the IDEA ’04 Act. To access the report for Indicator 1, click here. For indicator 2, click here.
