February 2024 - Special Educator e-Journal

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Special Education Legal Alert

By Perry A. Zirkel

© January 2024

This month’s update identifies recent court decisions that illustrate issues arising from (a) proficiency testing and (b) substantive FAPE, including the IDEA’s statute of limitations.  For related publications and earlier monthly updates, see perryzirkel.com.

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    The Impact of Social Stories Interventions in Children of Diverse Developmental Needs, With an Emphasis on Family Collaboration: A Review of Literature

    By Janet Del Corro

    Abstract

    This review explores the impact of social stories interventions on the behavioral and social skills development of children with diverse developmental needs, highlighting the crucial role of family collaboration. Covering 2015-2020, it focuses on three themes: targeting social skills, assessing behavior influences, and efficacy through family collaboration. Studies by Bardhoshi et al. (2020) and Golzari et al. (2015) reveal positive social skills outcomes in kindergarten students and those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). O'Connor and Hayes (2019), and Khantreejitranon (2018) show social stories' value for children facing behavior and communication challenges. Acar et al. (2017) and Olçay-Gül and Tekin-Iftar (2016) emphasize family-delivered interventions, indicating the potential of parent collaboration in enhancing social skills and behaviors. The research consistently supports social stories' effectiveness in diverse populations, suggesting their incorporation into educational and therapeutic settings for tailored support.

    Keywords: social stories, intervention, social skills, behavioral difficulties, family collaboration

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    How to Share Data Effectively: Tips for Administrators, Teachers, and Families

    This set of tip sheets from the Harvard Family Research Project helps administrators, teachers, and families determine the best ways to share student data in meaningful ways, on a regular basis, to strengthen family–school partnerships and promote student learning. The tip sheets include examples of data-sharing practices that illustrate how administrators, teachers, and families can adopt a data-driven approach to supporting student learning. Designed to be used either individually or as a set, the tip sheets allow educators and families to approach conversations about student data with shared expectations about what each of them is prepared to discuss. This understanding helps increase their ability to work together to improve children’s educational outcomes.

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    Case Study: RTI: Data-Based Decision Making

    The IRIS Center’s Case Study Units provide faculty with realistic teaching scenarios for students to use, and they are designed to strengthen a student’s understanding of the topic, as well as enhance their problem-solving skills while exploring new content. This case study provides information about how to examine a student’s progress monitoring data to determine if the student is responding adequately or if the student would benefit from more intense intervention.

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    Equitable Access Toolkit

     

    Every student deserves teachers and principals who can help them achieve their potential. Yet students from low-income families or rural backgrounds, students of color, students with special needs, and English language learners have less access to excellent educators than do other students, which hinders their ability to succeed in school and beyond. To help education leaders ensure that all students receive equitable access to excellent educators, the U.S. Department of Education announced the Excellent Educators for All Initiative, which requires each state, alongside stakeholders, to create a State Plan to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent Educators.

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    Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $6 Million in New Grants to Address Community Violence and its Impacts on Student Mental Health

    Vice President Kamala Harris announced $6.4 million from the U.S. Department of Education (Department) to address community violence. The funding is being awarded to seven school districts across the country as part of the Project Prevent grant program. The Vice President will make the announcement in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she will be joined by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence and expand access to mental health services for students.

    “Every child deserves the freedom to live safe from gun violence in their school and throughout their community. President Biden and I are committed to protecting this freedom and continuing to address an epidemic of gun violence that has become the leading cause of death for children across America,” said Vice President Harris. “With today’s announcement, we are reaffirming our Administration’s dedication to preventing this senseless violence and keeping our children, families, and communities safe. As we call on Congress to pass commonsense gun safety policies, we are proud to fund proven solutions like those supported by Project Prevent that help schools increase access to mental health and other resources for their students.”

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    U.S. Department of Education Announces Winners of the $1 Million Future Finder Challenge to Support Adult Learners

    The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced that Gladeo, a minority- and women-owned public benefit corporation based in Los Angeles, California, has been selected as the grand-prize winner of the Future Finder Challenge, a $1 million challenge to reimagine career navigation for adult learners. Workbay, a woman-owned business based in Franklin, Tennessee, has been selected as the runner-up.

    Both recipients of earlier funding as finalists, the Gladeo team will receive an additional $500,000 and the Workbay team will receive an additional $250,000 to support the continued development and deployment of their digital career navigation tools. These awards recognize that Gladeo's and Workbay's innovative solutions have demonstrated compelling evidence of their potential to support adult learners in developing the skills and knowledge to pursue their career interests. Throughout the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, the Future Finder Challenge will support the winning teams as they further refine and implement their digital career navigation tools across the adult education ecosystem.

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    Book Review: Leaders of Learning

    By Candace Joshnick

    Purpose and Thesis

    When we encounter the term "leader" within education, our immediate association tends to be with individuals in authoritative positions, such as administrators, principals, coaches, and other adults occupying leadership roles. Rarely do we pause to contemplate the concept of "students" as leaders, specifically “leaders of their learning” (Woodfin et al., 2014). The central thesis of “Leaders of Their Own Learning” challenges conventional thinking by putting students as “leaders” as opposed to teachers lecturing and students “Listen.” It establishes a motivation and achievement framework involving students investing in their growth. The authors base their theories on student-engaged assessments, stating that they empower students to build critical thinking skills reflective understanding, and become self-advocates ready for college and careers. Student-engaged assessment through data notebooks allows parents to be involved in their child’s learning and promotes accessibility, investment, and transparency, reassuring all stakeholders. Readers interested in “Leaders of Their Own Learning” will find this review a valuable resource for understanding how to guide adolescent learners to be their generation's future “leaders” by empowering them to take ownership and self-advocate for their education.

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      Book Review: Relentless

      By Philip Garza

      Abstract

      A book review of accomplished principal, motivational speaker, and world traveler Hamish Brewer. This review explores the jagged path to success and the leadership style of a man who truly loves his students, staff, and community.

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        Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET 

        * Special Education Teaching Position in the Greater Boston Area - Reed Academy in Framingham, MA, offers a structured and therapeutic environment to boys with variety of education needs. Teach in a small and family-like, nurturing environment for Students with Moderate Needs. To learn more- Click here

        * EC Teacher - Well established NC Charter School Seeking Full-time EC Teacher. Under the general supervision of the School Principal, to maximize the learning experience of students with special needs, in academics, interpersonal skills and activities of daily living by implementing district approved curriculum. To learn more- Click here

        * Head of School - Gesher Yehuda seeks a dynamic and visionary leader for the role of Head of School (HOS). This is a new position designed to work closely with the Board President and current Principal, overseeing and supporting the Administration and Business Manager. To learn more- Click here

        * High School Special Education Teacher - New Visions for Public Schools is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of public education in New York City. Today, we support almost 2,000 public schools and thousands of teachers, serving over a million students, in their most critical work: deciding what and how to teach, helping keep students on track to graduation, and preparing students for success beyond high school. To learn more- Click here

        * SY23-24 High School Special Education Math Teacher - Working alongside general classroom teachers and in coordination with related service providers, Special Education Teachers serve as case managers, assess and monitor students' progress, design and update IEPs, and collaborate with parents and other school staff to track students' progress. To learn more- Click here

        * Special Education Teacher – San Jose, CA - Private School in San Jose, California has Special Education Teacher Opening starting January 2024. The Special Education Teacher teaches elementary and/or secondary school subjects to students with emotional impairments in specialized school programs. This position plans and prepares a comprehensive annual classroom syllabus. To learn more - Click here

        * Special Education Teacher - As a teacher at Beacon Day School you join a supportive community of educators, behaviorists, therapists, administrators, and staff who care deeply about our students and their families. We look forward to welcoming you! To learn more- Click here

        * Special Education Teacher - You will have the opportunity to change lives through education as you connect and work one-on-one with students needing special support to understand both their capabilities and disabilities as you develop and apply personalized learning approaches and programs that support their growth, progress, and success. To learn more - Click here

        * Special Education Teacher - STARS is the largest school contract agency in AZ. STARS is owned and operated by Occupational Therapists. You will be an employee and receive full benefits. Summers off with year-round pay and year-round appreciation. To learn more- Click here

        * Special Education Teacher - We are seeking a Special Education teacher for Thresholds High School! Thresholds High School is an Illinois State Board of Education certified Therapeutic Day School for students ages 16 to 21 years old with ongoing serious mental health needs. The Thresholds High School provides a distinct combination of flexibility and support in order to help students achieve both their high school diploma and their transition goals. To learn more- Click here

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        Acknowledgements

        Portions of this or previous month’s NASET’s Special Educator e-Journal were excerpted from:

        • Center for Parent Information and Resources
        • Committee on Education and the Workforce
        • FirstGov.gov-The Official U.S. Government Web Portal
        • Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals (JAASEP)
        • National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
        • National Institute of Health
        • National Organization on Disability
        • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
        • U.S. Department of Education
        • U.S. Department of Education-The Achiever
        • U.S. Department of Education-The Education Innovator
        • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
        • U.S. Department of Labor
        • U.S. Food and Drug Administration
        • U.S. Office of Special Education

          The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) thanks all of the above for the information provided for this or prior editions of the Special Educator e-Journal

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