School Board adjusts the ranks Jul 4, 2008
According to Habrowski, his focus will be on school curriculum, assisting the direction of transportation and collaborating with Cooperative Schools Services to better serve students with special needs. I am looking forward to the new challenges and work with the kids, said Habrowski. (Rensselaer Republican, IN)
Supporting Disabled Students Provides Valuable Lesson for All Jul 2, 2008
"Helping students with special needs, whether they face physical, mobility, socialization or job-seeking challenges, benefits the greater student body as well," says Tammy Klette, academic student advisor at Brown Mackie College - Louisville. "Other students see these students who have obstacles and are determined to get a degree. They are strong positive role models for others in their classes.". (Harrisburg Daily Register, IL)
New director infuses Lighthouse with color and warmth Jun 30, 2008
Operated by Challenge Enterprises of Northeast Florida Inc., Lighthouse is a nonprofit private school contracted to serve Clay County public school students with special needs. Grant, a 63-year-old veteran educator of West Jacksonville, was hired in July to replace Kristy Doby, who took a job at another day-care center. (Florida Times-Union)
‘Grissom’s Angels’ Join Walk Now For Autism Jun 27, 2008
Friday June 27, 2008. Grissom s Angels Join Walk Now For Autism by Jennifer Caroccio, Chronicle Intern06/26/2008. (Queens Chronicle, NY)
School district eyes bond measure Jun 26, 2008
They need more space to accommodate technological advancements and students with special needs. They could also benefit from some safety-related upgrades. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
New Bloomfield's positive behavior gets rewarded Jun 25, 2008
I think it applies to all students schoolwide, including students with special needs. It tries to provide a framework so everybody in the school uses the same sort of approach to discipline. (Fulton Sun, MO)
Two area schools ‘fail’ No Child Left Behind Jun 25, 2008
We are not proud of this and want to serve our students with special needs as well as we serve our other students, he said. Tomah proactively developed a plan that will get the students reading at a higher level, Skofronick said. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Biggest challenge facing schools? Jun 24, 2008
Would it help our educational performance levels if the State of Georgia designated predominantly black schools as Students with Special Needs Educational Centers. By Sick of ya'll. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
A-B principal to retire after 36 years in the school district Jun 21, 2008
Until changes in state law in 1972 that require public schools to provide education for students with special needs, many schools lacked such programs. The Acton-Boxborough schools were a few years ahead of the new legislation and the school s occupational development program is an area Donovan is especially proud of. (Acton Beacon, MA)
EQAO results show modest improvements in literacy Jun 12, 2008
The success rate of students with special needs only improved by 6 per cent in the last five years to 52 per cent.. "This year's OSSLT results will once again help educators gauge the effectiveness of their educational strategies," said Marguerite Jackson, EQAO's chief executive officer said in a news release. (CTV.ca)
KCK student explores new educational frontier: public school online ... Schlitterbahn still plans partial 2009 opening ... Incumbents to face little opposition ... Williams sentenced ... ';var marqueewidth="350px";var marqueeheight="25px";var marqueebgcolor="#FFFFFF";////NO NEED TO EDIT BELOW THIS LINE////////////var pauseit=1;var marqueespeed=1 //slow speed down by 1 for NSvar copyspeed=marqueespeedvar pausespeed=(pauseit==0)? copyspeed: 0var iedom=document.all||document.getElementByIdif (iedom)document.write(''+marqueecontent+'')var actualwidth=''var cross_marquee, ns_marqueefunction populate(){if (iedom){cross_marquee=document.getElementById? document.getElementById("iemarquee") : document.all.iemarqueecross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8+"px"cross_marquee.innerHTML=marqueecontentactualwidth=document.all? temp.offsetWidth : document.getElementById("temp").offsetWidth}else if (document.layers){ns_marquee=document.ns_marquee.document.ns_marquee2ns_marquee.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8ns_marquee.document.write(marqueecontent)ns_marquee.document.close()actualwidth=ns_marquee.document.width}lefttime=setInterval("scrollmarquee()",20)}window.onload=populate;function scrollmarquee(){if (iedom){if (parseInt(cross_marquee.style.left)>(actualwidth*(-1)+8))cross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(cross_marquee.style.left)-copyspeed+"px"elsecross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8+"px"}else if (document.layers){if (ns_marquee.left>(actualwidth*(-1)+8))ns_marquee.left-=copyspeedelsens_marquee.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8}}if (iedom||document.layers){with (document){document.write('')if (iedom){write('')write('')write('')write('')}else if (document.layers){write('')write('')write('')}document.write('')}}Sunday, June 08, 2008 Seventeen-year-old Brandon Fields logged in to his iQ Academy Kansas classroom this week. Field resides in Wyandotte County, but he "attends" a school online in the Manhattan-Ogden Public School District in central Kansas. The school was started in 2007 and Fields is one of a handful of enrollees from northeast Kansas. Kansan photo by NICK SLOAN KCK student explores new educational frontier: public school online Jun 8, 2008
Any student can be accepted into the school, but the program attracts students who have been previously home-schooled, students with special needs or those seeking Advanced Placement courses unavailable through surrounding school districts. We have students of all academic backgrounds enrolled in the program, said Brooke Blanck, director of iQ Academy Kansas. (Kansas City Kansan, KS)
Aberdeen man with MS graduates high school in hospital Jun 8, 2008
Students with special needs are allowed to attend school up to age 21 so they can complete course work. "We kept praying to make it to graduation," said his mother, Charmaigne Messer. (Longview Daily News, WA)
Principal discussions: Jun 5, 2008
The plan s objective is to provide support for students with special needs as the students move forward through a mainstream curriculum. Boyd said that he is also pleased with the development of the Second Step program. (Wakefield Observer, MA)
What do Elkhorn School and explosive baby bottles have in common? Jun 3, 2008
"Oscar: Yes, parents will fight to keep Elkhorn open. They do not want to give up such a gift when the district is footing the bill. Having a child at Elkhorn, for many parents, is a feather in their cap that they are not willing to give up. Others simply enjoy a school full of studious children. A lot of these parents are not aware that there are children that should be at a special school because they are highly or profoundly gifted and at risk. Elkhorn is not that school right now. There are... (Lodi News Sentinel, CA)
Teen ESL results better than ever, province says May 30, 2008
Among students with special needs, 52 per cent who wrote the test passed. The pass rate has actually declined five per cent since 2004, though fewer passed in 2003. (Waterloo Record)
Students test results continue to rise May 29, 2008
N The success rate for students with special needs increased by six percentage points, from 46 per cent in 2003 to 52 per cent in 2008 ... However, the testing continues to provide evidence that important segments of the student population are still strugglingthose in applied English courses, students with special needs and English language learners. (Peterborough Examiner)
Graduation testing gets public airing in Salem May 29, 2008
The change is still causing some angst, particularly among rural districts and parents of students with special needs ... The change is still causing some angst, particularly among rural districts and parents of students with special needs. (Longview Daily News, WA)
Goodys gives $10k grant to Brown Elementary School May 28, 2008
Students with special needs at Margaret R. Brown Elementary School in Seymour will soon enjoy a well-equipped, multi-sensory room thanks to a 10,000 Goodys Good Deeds grant, awarded to students and faculty during a presentation ceremony on Thursday morning ... The grant will go to better equip the schools current sensory integration room, which provides autistic and other students with special needs an environment where sensory needs can be met ... Access to the sensory integration room is... (Brownstown Jackson County Banner, IN)
What should Newton do next? May 28, 2008
While I and the Newton Public Schools are absolutely committed to provide important programs to our students with special needs, the state ought to be fully funding the special ed circuit breaker to help municipalities with the costs associated with doing so. Paul Coletti Chairman, Finance Committee. (Newton Tab, MA)
Elite school students get more special help in HSC May 26, 2008
"Public schools still cater for the majority of students with special needs.". Reddam House is among a cluster of schools - including Frensham in Mittagong, St Luke's Grammar in Dee Why, Masada, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Scots, St Andrew's, Cranbrook, Knox and the Hunter Valley Grammar - with unusually high rates of "special considerations" in the HSC over the past three years, according to data from the Board of Studies. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Private school perks May 26, 2008
The state school system can not afford to look after students with special needs to an adequate level. This is a systemic problem and is not solved purely by changing where funding goes to and from. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Westport parents say special ed lacks parity May 23, 2008
" Board of Education chair Marge Cion said the hour was late, and the idea would get revisited. Both Dener and Cowden had already made other suggestions. Cowden noted, "We started doing surveys about the Extended School Year (summer school, which is mandated for some students with special needs) five years ago," and she noted that it was still [mostly] being talked about. While the task force of parents and educators that met for most of the previous school year (2006-2007) had talked about... (Westport Minuteman, CT)
New Teachers: 'I wasn't prepared for the challenges of teaching in a diverse classroom.' May 21, 2008
Third in Series of Reports on First-Year Teachers Identifies Two Insufficient Areas of Training: Teaching in Diverse Classrooms and Working with Special-Needs Students Smaller Class Size Would Ameliorate Both Challenges, New Teachers Say NEW YORK, May 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Public Agenda and the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality today released research that points to two specific areas where teacher training may be lacking, according to rookie teachers in the trenches and... (PR Newswire)
Shame in Court: Special Interest Groups 'Win' Case to Pull Kids with Special Needs, Foster Students Out of Better Schools; Outraged Parent Advocates Vow to Fight On May 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for School Choice tonight strongly condemned today's decision by an Arizona appellate court to overturn Arizona's school choice programs for foster children and students with special needs. Unless the programs are upheld on appeal, hundreds of children will be physically removed from their schools. (PR Newswire)
BoE Speaks: In Defense of the Budget May 15, 2008
Additionally, there was an unusual increase in the number of students with special needs who transferred into the district and additional new staff had to be hired to address their needs. Some taxpayers believe that, due to the triennial reevaluation from 85 percent to 100 percent full-market assessment, their school property taxes will go up at least 15 percent on top of the 2. (Ithaca Times, NY)
Override letters May 14, 2008
The mayor s PR guns are loaded so expect a barrage of we ll lose our teachers scare tactics and threats aimed at the most vulnerable students and personal situations threats to jeopardize students with special needs and threats to our security and peace of mind by lessening fire and police protection. These threats are so willfully vindictive that they only serve to illustrate that the administration will throw any taxpayer under the bus at any time. (Newton Tab, MA)
Voters to be asked to keep tax May 11, 2008
-- The administration proposed changing Lorie Gerkey's title, "director of exceptional student services," to "director of student services" and adding supervision of gifted and related services, Medicaid, 504 plans for students with special needs and English acquisition services to her present responsibilities for special education. Action will be taken later. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
Gym dandy: Dance class makes PE fun May 8, 2008
Hill, who also teaches an adaptive-PE class that serves students with special needs, included them in the performance as well. Sometimes there is so much pressure to be great at something that it stops people from trying at all, but Hill's course has taught her students that gym class doesn't have to be dreaded, and that getting out there and trying is what matters. (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL)
School Board May 4, 2008
Potter wrote on Apr 29, 2008 9:03 PM:" Im a special education teacher and I cannot describe in words how I feel about the injustice I feel for students with special needs. I dont know what new laws created the madness (No Child Left Behind, IDEA, etc) but it has children suffering. These laws require students to be placed in regular education classroom were they are subjected to failing grades and lowed self-esteem. Why should a child that is reading and functioning on a 1st grade level... (New Iberia, LA)
School Choice Competition Working in Florida, New Report Shows May 3, 2008
WASHINGTON, May 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's largest school voucher program for students with special needs, the John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, has led to increased achievement among public school students with special needs, a new report by the New York-based Manhattan Institute reveals ... These gains occurred when other students with special needs transferred from public schools to private schools using the state's McKay Program ... "Several local... (PR Newswire)
$90M bond enters final building phase May 2, 2008
The district purchased 29 new school buses, including two equipped for students with special needs. The News-Herald, A Heritage Newspapers Tri-Weekly Publication. (The News-Herald)
Technology puts more pupils in the mainstream Apr 21, 2008
The education act requires educators to consider technology for students with special needs so they can be accommodated in the general classroom. The key is finding the right tools and strategies to include all children in the classroom, said Madalaine Pugliese, the assistive technology graduate program director at Simmons College, the only school in the region to offer such a program. (Boston Globe)
A special celebration Apr 17, 2008
It was the last time for Rollins to perform in the annual Talent Show and Family Night for West High students with special needs. Thirty-five students participated in the event, with each picking themes from different states. (Daily Iowan, IA)
Rigby: The people make the job super Apr 16, 2008
At her interview with the Concord School Committee and the Concord-Carlisle Regional School Committee Tuesday night, Rigby fielded seven scripted questions on topics such as the role of superintendent, the evolution of education, balancing budgets, hiring philosophies, METCO, out-of-district placements for students with special needs and boosting staff morale. Educational researchers heavily influenced Rigby s responses to philosophical questions, which she also said is true of her leadership... (Concord Journal, MA)
More than words: Montana School for the Deaf and Blind gives students a music lesson Apr 16, 2008
But on Tuesday, when the choir from the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind arrived to give the college students a tutorial on teaching music to grade-school students with special needs, the class was awestruck. Nobody wanted the usual break, and everybody complained the class wasn't long enough. (Missoulian, MT)
District prepares for ACEC dissolution Apr 15, 2008
"For smaller districts, it's very hard for them to afford to pay for all the services, because it's quite expensive to provide for students with special needs," she said. Services provided by the cooperative included educational diagnosis, where students and their educational needs were evaluated; school psychology; occupational therapy; and special education counseling. (Sealy News, TX)
'Special Saturday' Apr 14, 2008
About 650 special education bus drivers and aides participated April 5 in voluntary sessions, along with the Melvindale Fire Department, on how to provide better services to students with special needs. Groups went though various training sessions throughout the day, working on team-building skills, sensory issues, car seat security and bus evacuations. (The News-Herald)
School district searches for special ed teachers Apr 13, 2008
And adding to the district's load is the fact the school district also is responsible for some students with special needs from the time they turn 3 to when they graduate with a diploma or turn 22, Newton said. Newton said there are about 62 special education teachers employed by the district and 114 in related special education positions. (Juneau Empire)
IWF 1Q grants total more than $5.8M Apr 12, 2008
n $2,000 to the Center for the Advancement of Self-Sufficiency for programs to assist students with special needs in the Atlantic area ... - Center for the Advancement of Self-Sufficiency Inc., $2,000 for programs for students with special needs in the Atlantic area. (Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA)
DCSEA votes to dissolve Apr 11, 2008
DeKALB The DeKalb County Special Education Association board voted Thursday to dissolve the DCSEA after the 2008-09 academic year, leaving the eight school districts in the county to find their own outlets for providing services for students with special needs ... The cooperative offers technical assistance, legal advice, staff training and assistance with financial reimbursements to families of students with special needs, Beard said, and service costs are paid by member districts ... The... (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL)
Viroqua senior overcomes learning disability to reach his goals Apr 9, 2008
pbn wrote on Apr 8, 2008 2:12 PM:" Congratulations to you! You are a great role model for other students with special needs and a reminder to all of us that determination makes things possible! Best wishes with your college career!! ". PLEASE NOTE: Comments on stories that frequently update through the day disappear with each update. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Budget talks continueSchool budget scrutinized, discord ensues Apr 3, 2008
The NEASC-specific costs include $43,844 for a full-time world language teacher, by NEASC recommendation; $21,922 for a half-time special education teacher, which is also needed due to recent state legislation to accommodate students with special needs; $21,922 for a half-time social studies teacher; $8,443 for an increase to the hours of an art teacher to offer "3D art such as sculptures" to the curriculum; and four new teachers at $5,850 each and a full-time administrator at $7,800 to increase... (Town Times, CT)
Bill would improve access to audio and braille texts Apr 2, 2008
"A lot of smaller school districts don't have these students with special needs, and when they do they don't know where to go to get the things they need," he said. Tobin's bill moved through the House without opposition and won a unanimous endorsement from the Senate Education K-12 Committee, which amended it to require the Board of Education to post the list of alternative media providers on its Web site, on its way to the Senate floor. (AZCentral -- News)
Parents raise money for playground Mar 30, 2008
" The association, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, comprises parents of the school and is gathering money for the playground equipment. Parents have applied for a $10,000 grant from "My Hometown Helper," a nationwide initiative of Hamburger Helper that aids local groups in bettering their communities. The grants are given to up to 12 organizations in the country. The program awards money to projects based on value and impact on the area. Parents are asking the community to show support for the... (The News-Herald)
Boy, 6, battlescancer, raises$900 for hospital Mar 30, 2008
His efforts are complemented by Edgewater Public School students with special needs who raised another $146 to pay for patient treatment and cancer research for children ... "Thirteen students with special needs and a 6-year-old battling brain cancer raised over $1,000 for St. Jude's. Who knew?". (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Governor signs revamped education package into law Mar 29, 2008
The legislation phases in increases to per-pupil spending, increases to students with special needs and adjustments to cost factors that compensate school districts outside Anchorage for their steeper costs. It's expected to add an extra $180 million for districts over the next 5 years. (Anchorage Daily News)
Hanscom school staffers honored Mar 29, 2008
She has been a strong advocate of HMS as a full inclusion school for students with special needs. Maloof serves as the key point of contact working with students having adjustment problems, families in crisis as well as issues regarding deployment, high school planning and other community contacts. (Lincoln Journal, MA)
Education funding rewrite signed into law Mar 28, 2008
The legislation phases in increases to per-pupil spending, increases to students with special needs and adjustments to cost factors that compensate school districts outside Anchorage for their steeper costs. It's expected to add an extra $180 million to school districts over the next five years. (Anchorage Daily News)
ATV safety course offered Mar 22, 2008
Students with special needs are asked to notify the department when registering and request special accommodations that may be required for participation. Tell us what you think. (Forest Republican, WI)
Pucci returns to coach volleyball squad Mar 21, 2008
I was in a process at Westerly High to get adaptive certification for working with students with special needs in physical education, Pucci said. I was working with (coach Dave) Federico. (Westerly Sun, RI)
School looking for 7.87 percent budget increase Plan includes $2.6 million increase over last year Mar 20, 2008
" Some of the positions restored include unified arts positions at Swift and a number of NEASC-required positions at WHS.Watertown also continues to rate 169 out of 169 in per pupil expenditures, at $8,899. Watertown's mill rate, on the other hand, rates 14 out of 24 in the DRG D category of towns, which is based on size and affluence."We're still last in per pupil expenditures even though the last two budgets were supported by the town and Town Council," said Dr. Pelosi, who hopes the town can... (Town Times, CT)
New EagleEyes Technology Assists Special Needs Students Mar 20, 2008
Utah schools use technology called EagleEyes, which detects eye movement, to help enable students with special needs to use computers for educational purposes. The equipment and program, donated by the Salt Lake City-based Opportunity Foundation of America, allows students to communicate and learn on their own level. (The Daily Universe, UT)
Firing of school director angers parents Mar 19, 2008
The private school teaches students with special needs, primarily students with dyslexia. Gutierrez has been at the school almost since it opened, Wangberg said. (AZCentral -- News)
School board opposed over spending hike Mar 15, 2008
"We're told that the Board of Education has been decimated. However, with the exception of myself, the Board of Finance has bent over backward to support the Board of Education." Superintendent of Schools Anthony Bivona, who arrived in the district last July, said that due to federal No Child Left Behind standards, among other things, schools have to be more accountable as a result, for example, of more standardized tests and by addressing students with special needs. "Our school district has... (Brookfield Journal, CT)
School board approves budget as presented Mar 7, 2008
"Because Bloomfield is in the demographically upper-third of the towns in Connecticut in its capacity to pay, if we had taken this to arbitration, we would spending much more," said Dale, who added that the special education costs could have been much worse if Title hadn't brought more students with special needs back into the school system. "That's a very significant concession," he said. (Farmington Valley Post, CT)
Temecula Valley district officials roll out hard budget numbers Feb 28, 2008
The crux of the problem is we have too many students with special needs (language) and a bureaucracy that spends more than it takes in. The California Legislature and its "mommy government" policies are to blame. (North County Times)
Sioux City father uses personal experience to advocate autism training Feb 24, 2008
While autism diagnoses - which have been on the rise for years - are cause for concern, the state has a responsibility to care for all students with special needs, Berger said. The dilemma we have now is. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Somonauk School District trying to separate itself from cooperative Feb 23, 2008
The 1,000-student district, which serves about 150 students with special needs, received DCSEA board approval Feb. 7 to withdraw from the cooperative ... DCSEA offers services such as technical assistance, legal advice, staff training and assistance with financial reimbursements to families of students with special needs, said executive director Carolyn Beard ... With the ISBE, the school district will work to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that individual needs of students with special... (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL)
College prep with a special touch Feb 21, 2008
Tuesday, Pam and her parents attended a college/career transition fair for students with special needs sponsored by the high school. The fair introduced parents to members of the administration at several colleges with special needs programs and provided information on how to research and prepare for college. (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
The cost of preparing students with special needs in Newton Feb 20, 2008
Students with special needs have the opportunity to use regular education students as examples ... If Newton can t provide services to students with special needs, they ll seek out-of-district support. (Newton Tab, MA)
Wisconsin's Largest Online High School Reaches Out as Open Enrollment Period Draws to a Close Feb 16, 2008
"The online environment caters to a wide range of students, including previously homeschooled students, athletes, performers and others with busy travel or work schedules, students with special needs and students seeking Advanced Placement courses or electives unavailable in their local school district." For the past six years, online schools have offered Wisconsin students a high-quality and innovative educational choice. In response to a ruling against Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WiVA), online... (PR Newswire)
Parents urged to register children early Feb 15, 2008
Early registration also helps to accommodate students with special needs. It is natural for incoming kindergartners to have some anxiety, says Susan Mayson, a school counselor for the district. (Conshohocken Recorder, PA)
Sioux City father pushes autism training for teachers Feb 8, 2008
While autism diagnoses -- which have been on the rise for years -- are concerning, the state has a responsibility to care for all students with special needs, Berger said. "The dilemma we have now is ... how do we meet all needs in all categories," Berger said. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Newton teacher levels the playing field Feb 6, 2008
The one-on-one attention gives Tynes students with special needs a head start on each new unit and enough practice to participate in, and even lead the regular gym classes. It s previewing skills, so a lot of the time I ll teach them what they ll be doing in the big group, and the beauty of that is they get to demonstrate, Tynes said. (Newton Tab, MA)
* Taiwan News Quick Take Feb 2, 2008
7 percent, or 2,490, registered test takers, including seven students with special needs, failed to show up. A majority of the examinees said the test was more difficult than they had expected. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
