News & Events
Page Actions
U.S. Department of Education Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Coordinating Center for Transition & Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Funding will be awarded to establish a coordinating center for institutions of higher education that offer inclusive comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. These institutions include those that have grants authorized under the Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education program. Application deadline is August 2, 2010.
- Add or view the Comments (0) for U.S. Department of Education Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Coordinating Center for Transition & Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
- Suggest Tags for U.S. Department of Education Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Coordinating Center for Transition & Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Eight Reports on Multisensory Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has released eight new reports that review the research on Orton-Gillingham-based programs for students with learning disabilities. Orton-Gillingham teaching sessions are action oriented with auditory, visual and kinesthetic elements reinforcing one another. The Clearinghouse's review of the research on Project Read Phonology, a multisensory language arts curriculum designed for use in a classroom or group setting, found this intervention to have no discernible effects on general reading achievement for students with learning disabilities. WWC also reviewed studies on seven other programs.
New GAO Report Finds Students with Disabilities Face Challenges in Participating in School Sports
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on the participation of students with disabilities in school athletics and physical education. The report found that students with disabilities participated in athletics at consistently lower rates than students without disabilities. Some schools or districts provide opportunities by partnering with community programs or offering athletics designed specifically for students with disabilities, such as wheelchair basketball. School officials also indicated a lack of information on ways to expand athletic opportunities, lack of clarity regarding schools' responsibilities and budget constraints as key challenges. The report makes recommendations on actions that the U.S. Department of Education should take to improve access to PE and extracurricular athletics to students with disabilities. The complete report can be downloaded in Text or PDF format.
Process & Criteria Used to Evaluate States' Requests to Waive Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Requirements under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) will consider states' requests to be excused from MOE requirements under IDEA, Part B for education of students with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Given the falloff in state revenues that has caused hardships for many states, some states are seeking to waive MOE requirements which would reduce the state's amount of financial support for special education and support services. Waivers will only be granted when a state demonstrates that it has experienced "exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances." This press release explains the factors being considered to grant a waiver. This link opens a PDF document.
- Add or view the Comments (0) for Process & Criteria Used to Evaluate States' Requests to Waive Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Requirements under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Suggest Tags for Process & Criteria Used to Evaluate States' Requests to Waive Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Requirements under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Eligibility for an Institution's Comprehensive Transition & Postsecondary Program (CTP) for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
The Higher Education Act, as reauthorized by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), includes information on the eligibility of students with intellectual disabilities to participate in the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study (FWS), and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) programs. Institutions that offer a CTP program can apply to have that program approved so that eligible students may receive Federal Pell Grant, FWS and FSEOG funds. To be eligible, an institution must already participate in the Federal student aid programs and offer an approved CTP program. For more information download Application for Title IV Approval of a Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program in Word format.
- Add or view the Comments (0) for Eligibility for an Institution's Comprehensive Transition & Postsecondary Program (CTP) for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
- Suggest Tags for Eligibility for an Institution's Comprehensive Transition & Postsecondary Program (CTP) for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Notice Inviting Grant Applications for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is offering 25 new grants for Fiscal Year 2010 to eligible groups or organizations to provide VR services to American Indians with disabilities, so they can train for and find employment. Priority will be given to applications for the continuation of VR service programs that have been funded under the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities Program. Application deadline is August 16, 2010.
- Add or view the Comments (0) for Notice Inviting Grant Applications for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities
- Suggest Tags for Notice Inviting Grant Applications for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities
Notice Inviting Grant Applications for Universal Design & Technologies for Children with Orthopedic Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is offering two new grants for Fiscal Year 2010 to eligible groups or organizations under the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program. The purpose of the RERC program is improve the effectiveness of services under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by conducting advanced engineering research and development on innovative technologies that are designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems, or to remove barriers within the environment. The priorities in this notice are universal design in the built environment and technologies for children with orthopedic disabilities. Application deadline is August 10, 2010.
13th World Conference of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment
This conference will take place on August 9-13, 2010, in Jomtien, Thailand. The theme, Achieving Education for All Children with Visual Impairment: Strategies and Challenges, will provide educators, visually impaired persons and parents worldwide with a chance to develop strategies to improve equity and quality in education. Register online.
Statement from Secretary of Education on Common Core State Standards
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has issued a statement on the release by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers of a set of state-led education standards known as the Common Core State Standards. The Standards represent a set of expectations for student knowledge and skills that high school graduates need to master to succeed in college and careers, and include information about the importance of challenging, and supporting, students with disabilities to excel within the general curriculum and be prepared for success in their post-school lives.
National Center for Education Statistics Releases The Condition of Education 2010
The National Center for Education Statistics has released the Condition of Education 2010, a report summarizing important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 49 indicators on the status and condition of education, in addition to a special section on high-poverty schools. The data reported relating to students with disabilities showed the following: 95 percent of the children and youth who received services in 2007-08 were enrolled in regular schools, and in 2007-08 6.6 million children and youth, representing 13 percent of public school enrollment, received special education services. Of those who received these services, 39 percent did so for a specific learning disability. The entire report (429 pages) can be downloaded in PDF format.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Checklist iPhone Application for Parents & Teachers
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) has announced the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Checklist iPhone application. The new IEP application helps parents of students with disabilities become better informed by making IEP information easier to access. This tool is for parents and teachers to consider as they develop an IEP. Watch a captioned video on how the IEP Checklist works. Not every item on the checklist is required by special education regulations. For more information about the IDEA and IEPs visit the Department of Education's IDEA Web site.