MAY 10, 2013: CEEDAR CENTER: NASDSE is pleased to be a partner in a new center funded by the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs. The Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center is announcing a national call seeking state partners, including state departments of education and teacher and leader preparation programs, to work collaboratively to promote support, and reinforce teacher and leader effectivenss across the career continuum and thereby ensure that students with disabilities achieve college and career readiness in inclusive settings. The CEEDAR Center will host two conference calls about this iniative on May 14th and May 29th. Applications are due June 21st. For additional infomation regarding this opportunity and the state application process, please visit http://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/national-call/.
APRIL 2, 2013: AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH: NASDSE's IDEA Partnership has developed a set of materials for Autism Awareness Month. To access these materials, click here.
March 7, 2013: NASDSE Government Relations Agenda for 2013: At its just concluded winter meeting, the NASDSE Board of Directors adopted a list of Government Relations agenda for 2013. The list is divided into two components – an 'Action Agenda' and a 'Agenda.' The list of issues indicates where NASDSE intends to focus its government relations activites for the year. To view the complete list, click here.
February 6, 2013: NASDSE Statement on Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC): NASDSE has submitted comments on a draft position paper from the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) Common Core Assessment Consortium on accomodations for read-aloud and use of calculators. NASDSE is opposed to the proposal in its present form. To read NASDSE's comments, click here.
NASDSE HAS MOVED (next door). Please note our new address as of March 29th: 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 420, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Impartial Hearings under the IDEA Legal Issues and Answers by Perry Zirkel, University Professor of Education and Law at Lehigh University, has been revised and updated. To review and download a copy, click here.
NASDSE Comments on Proposed Changes to the SPP/APR Indicators - To view NASDSE's comments, click here.
State Blueprint for RtI - NASDSE has just released the final volume in a series of three Blueprints for Implementation of Response to Intervention. The latest guide, Response to Intervention — State Level, provides a step-by-step approach for implementing RtI at the state level and taking implementation down to the local district and school building levels. The guide includes a self-assessment tool to help guide state efforts. This document is available for free downloading.Click here to read on-line or to download a copy. The three-volume set of Blueprints is now complete. To download the District Level Blueprint, click here. To download the School Building Level Blueprint, click here. Print copies of the District Level and School Building Level Blueprints are also available for purchase. To purchase either of these documents, click here.
NASDSE Opposes the Military Voucher Program for Students with Special Needs - NASDSE sent a letter opposing Amendment #94 to the National Authorization Act for FY 12 for the military voucher program for students with special needs. To read the letter, click here.
NASDSE Supports H.R. 2218 - NASDSE sent a letter in support of H.R. 2218, the “Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools Act.” To read the letter, click here.
NASDSE Opposes H.R. 2445 - NASDSE sent a letter opposing H.R. 2445, the “State and Local Flexibility Act.” To read the letter, click here.
NASDSE Supports IDEA Full Funding - NASDSE sent a letter in support of the IDEA Full Funding Act, S. 1403, that was introduced by Senator Harkin. To read the letter, click here.
NASDSE Opposes S. 1250 - NASDSE sent a letter opposing S. 1250,the GREAT Teachers and Principals Act, that would provide grants to states for teacher preparation for alternate certification but fails to acknowledge the special skills that teachers who teach students with disabilities need. To read the letter, click here.
NASDSE's Personnel Improvement Center Practice Briefs - NASDSE's Personnel Improvement Center has produced a series of practice briefs that highlight innovative strategies for recruiting and retaining personnel as well as examine existing data on personnel needs at the state and national levels. Find them on the PIC website @ http://.personnelcenter.org/practicebriefs.cfm.
Products Available from NASDSE's Personnel Improvement Center - NASDSE's Personnel Improvement Center has several high quality recruitment products, such as posters, brochures and recruitment videos that will assist you in implementing successful recruitment initiatives in your state, region or locale. Email us and let us know how many you would like. These products and materials are free of charge!
NASDSE and the National Title I Association (NTIA) releases "Recommendations for Improved Coordination Between Title I and IDEA" -Title I and the IDEA are US-ED's two large-scale investments for helping states provide services for students with special needs. Because there is often confusion regarding the overlapping language, requirements and accountability for implementing these laws, NASDSE and NTIA established the Title I/IDEA Workgroup with members from both organizations to develop recommendations for improved coordination. Click here for a copy of the June 2011 report.
NASDSE Transportation Resources - We have launched a new page on our website - Transportation Resources. In recognition of the transportation issues that many individuals with disabilities face with access to transportation, including young people who are transitioning out of high school to a postsecondary job or higher eduction. We thought it would be helpful to add a new section to our website with information on transportation resources. Check out the new page by clicking here.