November 2019 - Special Educator e-Journal
Table of Contents
- Special Education Legal Alert. By Perry A. Zirkel
- Buzz from the Hub
- Book Review: Transforming School Culture: How to Overcome Staff Division. By Carolina Fonseca
- Monitoring Interventions: Using Check-In/Check-Out for Students with Persistent Learning and Behavior Challenges. By Marissa Desiree Pardo
- Book Review: Deliberate Excellence: 3 Fundamental Strategies that Drive Educational Leadership. By Loydeen Thomas
- Provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education Throughout History: Evidence- Based Interventions and Instruction. By Marissa Desiree Pardo
- Book Review: School Culture Rewired: How to Define, Assess, and Transform It. By Cailyn Lawler
- A Critique of Differentiated Instruction in a Data-Based Context. By Maria Frontela
- Book Review: Leadership for a Better World: Understanding the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. By Elizabeth Haddad
- Latest Job Opportunities Posted on NASET
- Acknowledgements
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Special Education Legal Alert
By Perry A. Zirkel
© October 2019
This month’s update highlights two recent federal court decisions that of general significance: (a) an unpublished trial court decision that again illustrates the varying interpretations of the need for special education, and (b) a published appellate court decision with multiple issues, including the “reasonable period” dimension of Child Find. For further case law information on all of these issues issues, see recent publications on my website perryzirkel.com.
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Buzz from the Hub
All articles below can be accessed through login:
The Student Voice Family Guide to IEP Team Member Roles
Implementing PBIS in High Schools: Student Voice
And Don’t Forget Resources Already on the Hub
Status of State-Defined Alternate Diplomas in 2018-19
OSEP’s New TA&D Infographic
New from the Feds - Increasing Postsecondary Opportunities and Success for Students and Youth with Disabilities
Parent Guides, Anyone?
Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success
New for Families
Parents Deserve Clear Information About Student Growth in Schools
What I Wish Parents Asked at Parent-Teacher Conferences
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Book Review
Transforming School Culture:How to Overcome Staff Division
By Carolina Fonseca
Creating a balance between staff members in any organization can prove to be a difficult task. Differences in beliefs, opinions, race, socioeconomic background, education, etc. all play a role in the way in which individuals perform and react to certain situations, contributing to the overall culture of the organization. Often times, these differences can cause organizations to fall into negative spaces and create toxic cultures. In schools, particularly, these disconnects can not only harm the school as a whole but can negatively impact individual students as well. In his book, “Transforming School Culture: How to Overcome Staff Division”, Anthony Muhammad created a framework to help leaders understand staff division influenced by all the factors mentioned above, and to help guide schools in transforming from toxic cultures to healthy cultures. He aimed at spreading his belief that creating awareness of toxic environments and what causes them, was crucial in providing leaders with strategies to overcome them as supported by this excerpt from his book. To read more - login
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Monitoring Interventions: Using Check-In/Check-Out for Students with Persistent Learning and Behavior Challenges
By Marissa Desiree Pardo
Abstract
For students with disabilities (SWD), behavioral problems may often impede their academic success. Progress monitoring tools are a vital component of regulating behaviors and promoting positive academic habits as a result. This study will address the effectiveness of the Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) method, where a student self-monitors their behavior throughout the day on a daily progress report while receiving feedback and reinforcers from their parents and teachers. What the studies show is that CICO heavily emphasizes praise for replacement behaviors, which in turn increases engagement in trying to improve target behaviors. There is also some evidence that suggests this improves academic success as a result
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Book Review:
Deliberate Excellence: 3 Fundamental Strategies that Drive Educational Leadership
By Loydeen Thomas
Purpose
The book titled Deliberate Excellence: 3 Fundamental Strategies that Drive Educational Leadership by S. Dallas Dance is a piece of literature aimed at providing strategies in the hopes of creating and empowering successful and effective leaders when it comes to education, who will make a difference. In addition, this book aims to assist educational leaders to progress by establishing equity, understanding change, and learning how to truly communicate. To read more login
Provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education Throughout History: Evidence- Based Interventions and Instruction
By Marissa Desiree Pardo
Abstract
FAPE, or Free Appropriate Public Education, is what defines special or exceptional student education, and it is tailored to each individual student with a disability. Since the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, FAPE has remained mostly unchanged and it provides related services at the expense and supervision of the public free of charge to the student’s family. These services must meet the standards of educational agency, include appropriate grade-level education from the state, and conform to the Individualized Education Program policies and procedures.
Under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) and the IEP process, each child’s FAPE must be written and memorialized in their IEP, it must meet that child’s individual needs in the classroom, and must be designed to benefit the child in school. The school district and the state are required to provide FAPE to each special needs child.
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Book Review
School Culture Rewired: How to Define, Assess, and Transform It
By Cailyn Lawler
Implementing a culture change requires thoughtful planning, a current understanding of the underlying mentality, and a conscious effort to exude positivity. In School Culture Rewired: How to Define, Assess, and Transform It, authors Gruenert and Whitaker identify specific steps to identify, assess and change school culture. They state in the introduction that, “For schools to be effective, educators need to understand the organizational cultures in which they work and be able to modify them if necessary.” In the following chapters the authors dive into the subtext of defining, assessing, and transforming school culture. to read more login
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A Critique of Differentiated Instruction in a Data-Based Context
By Maria Frontela
Abstract
In this critique, the author will analyze and interpret information found in a research study conducted by Faber, Glas, and Visscher (2018). The previous study focused on the impact of differentiated instruction skills of teachers and student achievement as evidenced by standardized scores. The researchers wanted to fill the knowledge gap regarding the correlation between differentiated instruction in the classroom of elementary school children. In this critique, the author will discuss strengths and weaknesses of previous study and contributions to modify the study for further in-depth research.
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Book Review:
Leadership for a Better World: Understanding the Social Change Model of Leadership Development
By Elizabeth Haddad
The purpose of the book Leadership for a Better World: Understanding the social change model of leadership development by Susan R.Komives, Wendy Wagner and associates is to describe and explain the aspects that come together to focus on social change and making responsible actions and choices to change for the good of everyone. Another important focus of this book is The Social Change Model of Leadership Development, this is defined as leadership that is purposeful, people working together, and the importance of values that makes social change a positive experience. As described in the book, The Social Change Model has two main goals to make students participation experience better: Self-Knowledge and Leadership competence. The book describes self-knowledge as understanding important components that make each person who they are: values, talents and interests. This guides them to the type of leader they will be and what values they will have as a leader. Leadership competence is described as the ability to organize and prepare others and themselves to work together towards a mutual goal or purpose (Komives, Wagner & et al, 2017). To read more login
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NASET Sponsor
Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET
* Special Education Teacher - School Steps, an Invo Company, is hiring a Special Education Teacher in San Diego, CA.The qualified Special Education Teacher will teach elementary and/or secondary school subjects including social and prevocational skills to special education students with a variety of neurological, learning, and social/emotional disabilities. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - The Pinnacle School, a private, special education day school for college-bound students in grades 2 through 12, seeks a Lower and Middle School Special Education Teacher for a full-time, school-based position (10 months). The Special Education Teacher will provide high quality, data-driven instruction to students aligned with the school’s mission and philosophy. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education (Charleston, IL). Spec. Ed. Teacher. Develop materials for indiv. programs, goals/objectives for students, and evaluate acad/therapeutic/social growth for Spec. Ed students (K – age 21). Keep records and progress reports. Give standardized tests, other evaluative materials, maintain IEPs. To learn more - Click here
* Teacher - Under general supervision, plans and implements academic lessons, activities and plans for students in an assigned program. Assesses student’s academic abilities and educational needs; develops goals and objectives for the academic portion of the student’s IEPs. Develops, plans and implements lesson plans that meet identified goals and which incorporate student behavioral characteristics and communication abilities. To learn more - Click here
* Special Ed Teacher-Certified - The Home for Little Wanderers Southeast Campus seeks a SPED Teacher for their Plymouth-based program. Under the direction of the Principal, the Teacher leads development and implementation of curricula to multiple small-ratio, therapeutic classrooms of special education students primarily presenting with emotional impairments and performing at varying academic levels. To learn more - Click here
* Special Ed Teacher - The Home at Walpole seeks a Special Education Teacher for their Massachusetts Chapter 766 Special Education School, Clifford Academy. Clifford Academy provides a year-round engaging and comprehensive program focused on education, career development, recreation/fitness, and an individualized therapeutic approach. To Learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - Surprise, AZ - The Invo-Progressus Team has incredible opportunities for Special Education Teachers…or, as we like to call them, Superheroes. If you use your super powers to help ensure that children have access to the best education possible in the least restrictive environment, we would love for you to join the Invo-Progressus team! To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - Philadelphia, PA - The Invo-Progressus Team has incredible opportunities for Special Education Teachers…or, as we like to call them, Superheroes. We are currently seeking full-time Special Education Teachers in Philadelphia, PA for the 2019-2020 School Year. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - Bartow, FL - The Invo-Progressus Team has incredible opportunities for Special Education Teachers…or, as we like to call them, Superheroes. We are currently seeking a full-time Special Education Teacher in Bartow, FL to provide services in a K-12 school program. To learn more - Click here
* Intervention Specialist - The Intervention Specialist is responsible for maintaining compliance of student special needs records including IEPs and ETRs; monitoring and reporting student progress for caseload students as well as in classes taught; and providing instructional resources to students per IEP specifications. To learn more - Click here
* Chief Clinical Officer - Criterion Child Enrichment is conducting a search for a Chief Clinical Officer (CCO). Founded in 1985 as a not-for-profit organization, Criterion has served families for over 30 years and is a leading provider of early childhood education and early intervention services in Massachusetts. Each year the agency serves over 7000 families with a staff of over 400 through a program network that extends throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - Wake up every morning knowing you have the power and the tools to change lives. EBS is the employer of choice for special education teachers who truly want to help children learn, evolve, and grow. Join us, and we’ll give you everything you need to fuel your passion as a special education teacher. To learn more - Click here
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