Michigan Education Association

RTI Action Network

NEA is a Founding Partner of the national resource center, the RTI Action Network.

Please feel free to let members and colleagues know about this new free resource for networking and sharing ideas.

IRIS On-line Resources

NEA is an Executive Committee Partner of the IRIS Center . The IRIS Center is a federally funded project housed at Vanderbilt University in Nashville that provides research-based, high-quality resources for college and university faculty and professional development about students with disabilities. Its content is also relevant for Preschool - 12 educators who work with students with disabilities.

In particular, the Center offers free, online, interactive training modules on topics related to the education of students with disabilities, including Response to Intervention (RTI), Classroom Management, and Differentiated Instruction.

Recently, the IRIS Center added or enhanced its on-line offerings for these topics:

Inclusive practices
Accountability for students with disabilities Classroom-based assessment Collaboration Addressing disruptive and non-compliant behaviors Comprehensive behavior management Roles and responsibilities of the school nurse.

IRIS Center brochure.

Special education resources for general educators (SERGE)

Public Hearing Notice

ESY Services

Special Education Disputes

Part C Proposed State Eligibility

LD Online

LD OnLine.org provides many useful tools for educators who help students with learning disabilities reach their full potential. You can review the basics about learning disabilities http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder http://www.ldonline.org/adhdbasics or important information about IDEA 2004 http://www.ldonline.org/features/idea2004. A section especially for educators http://www.ldonline.org/educators has articles on instructional strategies and issues such as assessment, differentiated instruction, and using technology in the classroom and a question and answer section on teaching http://www.ldonline.org/questions/teaching

For information on what is going on in other states (and possibly your own) in the field of special education, you might want to subscribe to LD Online’s daily clipping service http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews which sends you the latest news all over the country. 

Universal Design for Learning Resources

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for designing curricula that enable all individuals to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. UDL provides rich supports for learning and reduces barriers to the curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all.

Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd)

The Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd) helps state and local education leaders to integrate instructional technology for all students to achieve high educational standards by providing resources on evidence-based practices, innovative online technical assistance tools, professional development, communities of practice and evidence-based, promising, and emerging practices based on the latest research.

The Center's free resources offer help in providing high-quality instruction for all students and are especially important for serving students with disabilities. Resources include professional development and research on implementing technology to improve student achievement.

Find resources in the Learn Center especially identified for teachers, administrators, technology coordinators, and professional development coordinators. Use My Center to collect, save, and share resources and toolkits with colleagues. Join their free webinar series, Moving Forward with Technology, and access free technical assistance.

To access the final regulations for IDEA issued on August 3, 2006 go to http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea

Special Education/IDEA issues

NEA Analysis: IDEA Final Regulations

NEA Summary/Analysis of U.S. Department of Education’s Final Regulations on Assessing Students With Disabilities under the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act

IDEA Summary

NEA has provided an initial summary (attached) of the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) reauthorization bill passed by Congress on Friday, November 19th. More detailed documents will be forthcoming to help our members deal with the implementation of the law.

Promising Practices

http://www2.edtrust.org/NR/rdonlyres/6226B581-83C3-4447-9CE7-31C5694B9EF6/0/GainingTractionGainingGround.pdf

A study released last Wednesday by the Educational Trust, called Gaining
Traction, Gaining Ground: How Some High Schools Accelerate Learning for
Struggling Students , attempts to reveal characteristics and practices of schools that are effective at improving the academic performance of previously low-performing students. The group also published a separate review of practices at three high-performing schools in Massachusetts, New York and Washington state.

The Assist -

Helping To Improve Access to and Progress in the General Curriculum
This newsletter provides information on preparing for IEP Team meetings, the IEP Team State Assessment Decision-Making Flow Chart, MEAP Accommodations, etc.

Special Education and the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act

Access to a free, quality education is the key to the uniquely American promise of equal opportunity for all. This promise was formally extended to children with disabilities with the passage in 1975 of landmark federal legislation now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Public schools across the country today serve more than 6 million youngsters with a wide array of disabling conditions.
Click here for more . . .

Michigan Launches New Assessment for Students with Disabilities

INCLUSION

Help for general education teachers! Special education students are often included in the general education classroom setting. Click here for links to resources for general educators and schools that are implementing inclusive programs.

Michigan Department of Education Special Education and Early Intervention Services

ADD WareHouse

Schwab Foundation for Learning

The Schwab Foundation web site offers bulletin boards, publications, and resources for teachers of children with learning differences.

Learning Disabilities Association of America(LDA)

National organization devoted to defining and finding solutions for the broad spectrum of learning disabilities.

National Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)

The ADDA serves individuals with ADD and the people who care for them.

CAUSE Citizens Alliance to Uphold Special Education

U.S. Department of Education

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
The NICHD conducts and supports research on the processes that determine and maintain the health of children, adults, families, and populations.

The Council for Exceptional Children(CEC)

The CEC is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities.

The International Dyslexia Association
The IDA has the latest information on dyslexia, including early identification, effective literacy education, research, current facts, and teacher training. Of special interest is a kids' only section of the site with discussion boards.

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CHADD)
CHADD is a nonprofit parent-based organization formed to better the lives of individuals with ADD and those who care for them.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The national Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Partnership website contains information from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs on changes to IDEA statute.

 

Updated: February 11, 2009 5:39 PM