NEWS, VIEWS, FACTS AND FICTION CONCERNING SPECIAL EDUCATION
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Fact or Fiction?
Q and A: Can School Psychologists diagnose disabilities, disorders and syndromes?
FACT: NO - School Psychologists cannot diagnose disabiities, disorders and syndromes because they are not State Licensed as a Psycholgist. Only State Licensd Psychologists can diagnoses.
Q and A: Can a Teacher or IEP team recommend that your child or teen should be on medication?
FACT: NO
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Gates Foundation Focuses on Teacher Quality
SEATTLE (AP) -- Ever since Americans sent their children to one-room schoolhouses, parents have known what makes a good school: an inspiring, organized, creative teacher. But researchers haven't been able to quantify what exactly makes a teacher effective and how to tie that to student achievement.
Now the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation -- an influential voice in education policy today -- hopes to end that confusion. Nine years and $2 billion into its work to improve America's public schools, the Seattle-based foundation is turning its focus to teacher effectiveness. ''We've been sort of looking around for the silver bullet for education reform, and actually the answer has been right under our feet the whole time,'' said John Deasy, deputy director of the foundation's education work.
Over the next five years, the foundation plans to spend another half a billion dollars in its quest to figure out what qualities make the best teachers and how to measure those qualities in the classroom.
The project has two parts: research to develop and test methods to rate teachers and experiments at a handful of school districts around the nation to try out new ways of recruiting, training, assigning and assessing teachers.
Among those asked to submit proposals for a share of the money were school districts in Atlanta; Denver; Hillsborough County, Fla.; Memphis, Tenn.; Omaha, Neb.; Palm Beach County, Fla.; Pittsburgh; Prince George's County, Md.; Tulsa, Okla., and a group of Los Angeles charter schools. This week, the foundation chose five finalists: Hillsborough County, Memphis, Omaha, Pittsburgh, and the Los Angeles charters. Final decisions will be made this fall.
The other five districts will be considered for smaller grants to pay for parts of their effective teaching plans.
Their ideas, which were presented in Seattle earlier this month, focus on teacher training, putting the best teachers in the most challenging classrooms, giving the best teachers new roles as mentors and coaches while keeping them in front of children, making tenure a meaningful milestone, getting rid of ineffective teachers, and using money to motivate people and schools to move toward these goals.
''It really is about an effective teacher for every student every year of their school career,'' said Vicki Phillips, director of the foundation's K-12 education program. ''If we did that, we would make the kind of progress that we have all long dreamed about in this country.''
Foundation officials said they were impressed with how thoughtful the districts were in their proposals and how clear it was that teacher's unions, school officials and elected school board members worked together to come up with the ideas.
Pittsburgh Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said the process propelled his district forward.
''I'd say we made almost 10 years of progress with our union in three months,'' he said. ''It was like a door had been opened that we didn't know was in the wall any more.''
Before getting involved in the Gates grant proposal process, Pittsburgh had focused on other school reforms like closing troubled schools, improving principal training and fixing curriculum to make it more rigorous and more consistent across the district. Teachers were next on the agenda.
Roosevelt speculated the transformation would continue with or without money from the foundation, although some of their ideas would take considerably more time to accomplish without the cash.
Districts chosen for the project will agree to use the foundation's research findings to influence their reform efforts, said Tom Kean, a Harvard researcher and foundation deputy director who is in charge of this part of the project.
Among the research ideas the foundation wants to explore is one that involves making digital videos of teachers in thousands of classrooms. Researchers will track elements of teacher performance and compare that information with student test scores.
The nation's largest teachers union expressed cautious optimism about the foundation's efforts.
John Wilson, executive director of the National Education Association, said he was glad to see someone putting money into research about teacher effectiveness, since there hasn't been much independent analysis combining teacher pay and student achievement.
''We all want great public schools for every student. It's rather complex how to get there,'' Wilson said.
- Check out your child or teens IEP and Behavioral Modification Plan and make sure that it is accurate and up to date.
- Check the IEP and see if your Child's IEP is up for a full re-evalaution which has to be done every 3 years. If it is due write a letter to the school and school district asking for a date to have the re-valuations done. This includs the Bhavioral Modification Plan as well. Be sure to put into you letter that you want to have the Present Levels of Performance done for this evaluaton drives the IEP.
- Check you child's back pack each and ever day and make sure that their PLANNER is written in.
- Ask to meet with you child's teacher to "Hear" how your child is doing. Ask, at this time, if Extra Credit work is allowed.
- If your child has an IEP make an appointment with your child or teens teachers to review the IEP with them on a one-on-one.
Back to School - Organization time and tips
It's almost time for back-to-school. What parent doesn't hear those words with a mixture of dread and relief? Stay sane with these tips to organize your back-to-school preparations.
Isn't it amazing how the same child who jumped out of bed in the morning to head to summer camp or a trip to the pool is soooo sleepy when it's time to get ready for school? After less hectic summer days when they might have had the chance to sleep in a little more often, kids are really difficult to get out the door. Use these tips to get yourself prepared and to help keep the sleepy heads moving in the morning.
Para 1 Out the Door and Off to School
The key to a successful morning is the night before. To make a smooth morning, here's a plan for the night before:
- Fill the book bag.
- Lay clothes out—with shoes. Some moms recommended laying out clothes for the whole first week to calm nervous children (and parents!).
- If the kids plan to buy lunch or even just milk, organize envelopes with the correct amount of money for each child for each day during the week. One mom we know with three kids tapes three rows of envelopes to the door through which they exit. She does this every Saturday to avoid scrambling during the week for the right amount of change. Alternately, you could fill the envelopes and put them in the book bag each night, particularly if your little one might lose the envelope clutched in his or her little hands.
- If you're packing, get lunch ready. A little pineapple juice over apples when you cut them up the night before keeps them from getting brown. We'll supply more great packable lunch ideas for the whole family next month.
- Add a note to your child's lunch. A note from mom or dad is a great first-day-of-school surprise.
Out the Door—On Time!
- Now's the time to start getting little ones used to getting up to an alarm clock. Even if they're still too little to make it all the way out of bed on their own, this will begin that learning.
- To avoid cranky, groggy kids on the first day of school, move bedtime back gradually. A week before school starts, move bedtime a bit earlier every night until you've moved it back to the time you want the kids to be in bed on school nights. Teachers everywhere will thank you!
- For really slow movers after the school year begins, we've found that moving bedtime 15 minutes earlier for each time a parent has to go back upstairs is a very effective incentive to get slugabeds moving.
- Make it a rule that kids must make the bus. One mom we know has kids who never miss the bus. It's simply not an option. They have a schedule, and they must stick to it by getting up at the same time and leaving the house at the same time. Another mom we know charges her kids a dollar for missing the bus, but her kids miss the bus regularly. Go figure.
- Make sure you introduce yourself to the bus driver. This is reassuring for parents and students. And, if you have a personal connection he or she may give you a reminder honk when you're late.
School Supplies
Remember last year when you had to go to three different stores to find those elusive perforated index cards? Or even that one style of crayons? We sure do. Now's the time to begin looking for school supplies. Lots of places have great sales and everything should still be available. If you haven't already received a list, call your school to see if it's available before the first day.While you're in the store, stock up on supplies for last-minute projects. You know the projects that the kids swear the teacher assigned just that day? They're coming sooner than you think.Be sure you purchase any clothes needed for gym. Somehow those white socks disappear. Check your supply sheet or ask your school.
Once a year, take the school permission form, make a dozen copies, and throw them in a folder. If kids forget their permission forms, you'll have them, but they're also great to pass on to people or organizations that never ask for a form, such as soccer coaches, community art classes going on field trips, and so on. You'll feel more comfortable knowing medical information for your child is immediately accessible, if needed.If your child is involved in extracurricular activities, you may need the medical form completed the first day.
Mom's Before School Homework
When you go to the grocery store, request paper bags so you'll have a supply for book covers. That's Mom's assignment before the first day of school!Mark the date for school orientation on your calendar. Even if the school doesn't have an official tour or you can't be there, call to arrange a tour if this is your child's first year (try not to cry!) or the first year at a new school. This will make your little one feel more confident. If your child is a returning student, be sure to find out when the class assignment list is posted. It's fun for the kids to find out who their teachers are and what buddies are in their classes. It also builds some excitement for school to begin.
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COMMITTEES TO VOLUNTEER FOR: The Clark County School District has told Mrs. Rose Moore, per e-mail, that they will not post on the CCSD web site all the comittees that parents can volunteer for. Call or write to your Trustees and ask for these volunteer committes to be posted and then volunteer for the committee that you want to be on that will benefit our schools and most of all all our kids. Be sure you know who your Trustee is for your District.
E-Mail from the Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV
RE: Response to inquiry concerning advisory committees?
From: rose moore (rosemoore@hotmail.com) Sent:Tue 2/24/09 2:56 PM
Hi Michael,
I thank you for all your quick responses. It is very much appreciated.
Is there a person that I can go to to change this so the public is aware of the committees? Many people are not part of a school, like myself and numerous senior citizens with zillions of experienceor are/or working parents during the day.
Thank you for any guidance you can give me.
Sincerely,
Rose Moore
Mrs. Rose Moore - Broadcaster and Host of
On The Front Porch withThe Rose Moore Show
"Live" from Las Vegas to all 50 States and Internationally
Every Saturday from 6-7 pm pst - Check for your local times.
1-702-372-9130 or
1-702-516-3300
Remember......whatever we do, we do it for the kids. Rose Moore
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:25:38 -0800
Subject: Re: Response to inquiry concerning advisory committees
To: rosemoore@hotmail.com
From: mrodriguez3@interact.ccsd.net
Dear Ms. Moore,
Thank you for your input on the Clark County School District's advisory committees. Currently, there are no plans to post a list of advisory committees on the school district website.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions or are in need of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Michael T. RodriguezPublic Information SpecialistCommunications OfficeClark County School District5100 W. Sahara AvenueLas Vegas, NV 89146(702) 799-5304(702) 799-2853 fax mrodriguez3@interact.ccsd.net
Hi Michael,
Thank you for answering so quickly.
Many parents do not have the time to volunteer in the schools or don't want to but they do want to be on a committee for other things they are intersted in, or have a degree or heavy knowledge in. How can we get these advisory committess on the CCSD web site.
Do we have to go through the Trustees? I
don't know how this works.
Thank you
Rose Moore
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:34:47 -0800
Dear Ms. Moore,
This email is in response to your inquiry on Monday, February 9, asking if a section existed on the Clark County School District website that contained a list and description of all advisory committees that the public can choose to participate in.
Currently, no such list exists on the CCSD website. However, interested community members are encouraged to volunteer their time at local schools and help make a positive contribution to education in Clark County. When community members volunteer their time to a school, it allows staff at that school to gain a better understanding of their volunteer interests. By working with school staff, these volunteers often learn about upcoming opportunities to serve the community and may have the chance to directly express their desire to participate in those opportunities. Many of the community members who serve on district advisory committees first became involved at their local schools. For interested residents, there is never shortage of opportunities to help education.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions or if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Michael T. Rodriguez
Public Information Specialist Communications Office
Clark County School District
5100 W. Sahara AvenueLas Vegas, NV 89146
(702) 799-5304(702) 799-2853
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This was taken from an Agenda for one of the Board Meetings but all it does is list thecommittes and nothing else. Call your trusteee for more information on each of the committees.
10.02 BOARD REPORTS. Discussion regarding Board committees and conferences to include, but not limited to, reports on committee meetings and conferences
- which may include the Superintendent EducationNetwork,
- Empowerment Design Team,
- American Education Week Committee,
- Attendance Zone AdvisoryCommission (AZAC),
- Debt Management Commission,
- Student Dropout Prevention Community Link,
- Interlocal Grant Relations,
- Oversight Panel for School Facilities,
- Parks and Recreation,
- Public BroadcastSystem (PBS),
- Association of Public Television Stations (APTS),
- Public Education Foundation,
- School Name Committee,
- Sex Education Advisory,
- Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition (SNRPC),
- Student Council Advisory,
- Clark County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee,
- Nevada Association of School Boards (NASB),
- National School Boards Association (NSBA),
- Council of Urban Boards ofEducation (CUBE),
- Council of Greater City Schools,
- Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA),
- Department of Education,
- Policy Governance,
- staff relations,
- educational events,
- travel,
- legislativeupdates,
- community relations,
- and other committee and conference reports as necessary.
*******According to Governance Policies: GP-14: Board Committee Principles and GP-15: Board AffiliatedCommittees)
Re: Login in Interact?
Sent:Fri 5/01/09 11:14 AM
Hi... InterAct is an internal communication tool, so you wouldn't be able to get access. Some former employees retain access for specific reasons, and some representatives from organizations -- Communities in Schools, the Public Ed Foundation, etc. -- have limited access because of their active partnerships.CK
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Many states are cutting their budgets whereas the districts in all our states are deleted Programs and Teachers salaries first. What the public does not know is that the Board of Education Board members, also known as Trustees, vote on where the budgets are to be cut or eliminated. It is imperative that we, the public, let these Board members know that they neet to cut from the top first, meaning the superintendent, his cabinet (yes, superintendents have their own cabinet just like thePresident of the U.S.).
Here in Nevada we are going through a 6% cut, which mean salaries for the teachers. That would also mean the "Administrators" as well. BEWARE: When the superintendent states that he/she would not accept their raise as part of their salary decrease. They also have cars, vacation days (that can be sold back to the District for money), cell phones, 401 K's and so much more. Bring this up to your Board as well.
We must show that are teachers are the most valuable asset in this business of educating and they have to be treated as such with incentatives, bonuses, paid professional development classes and more.
Many Board members may be up for reelection in a year or two. Some have term limits and they try to file suit that they can stay on the Board. Don't let this happen! Find a person or person's that you personally know that has the experience in education - especially Special Education, which has been put on the back burners for years, to run for office.
Also check your District's Construction Contracts and compare them to the amount of change orders and purchase orders thatare submitted to the Board for payment. What we have found here in Nevada, where almost all ofour schools are built the same, the change orders are superceding the contract amount. Some one on the Board should watch this closely before approving millions of dollars in change orders. The Board members also need to make sure that any changes to the Contract amount is put on plans and scope of work and specs for next time.
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Every state has to have one. It usually consists of 30 to 35 members. The SEAC is organized and functions in accordance with state and federal requirements. The committee's functions include the following:
1. Defining plans for identifying children with disabilities;
2. Formulating and developing long-range plans that will provde services for children with disabilites;
3. Determining the "unmet needs" of children with disabilities within the state.
4. Developing priorities and strategies for meeting identified needs of children with disabilities;
5. Reviewing and making public comment on the State Improvement Plan, the procedures for the distribution of funds under Part B of IDEA, and any rules and regulations proposed by the state regarding the educaton of children with disabilities;
6. Review the findings and decisions regarding due process procedures for parents and children;
7. Advise the state in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in Federal Monitoring reports; and
8. Prepare and submit an annual report to your State Board of Education.
In just this Committe alone you will meet all sorts of people, from the public as well as the different School Districts within your state, with ideas that will work, if and when implimented. It is your chance to listen and understand their concerns and how they feel they are to be implimented and why. Some represent Foster Care, some that have children with disabilities, some that have disabilites themselves, some that are Speical Education teachers or administrators; basically all areas of disabilites within the Special Education environment.
