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- School offers yoga for students with disabilities
 Yoga instruction is part of the curriculum at Franciscan Hospital for Children's Kennedy Day School in Massachusetts, which serves students who have autism, cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Therapists and teachers say the yoga practice has many physical and other benefits for students. Boston Herald/The Edge
(4/16)     
- University program enrolls students with intellectual disabilities
A program at the University of North Florida is designed to allow students with intellectual disabilities to attend college. Students in the Arc Jacksonville Academy On Campus Transition Program audit two courses each semester and may live on campus and participate in other campus activities. The program also enlists students without disabilities to act as mentors for participants and help them integrate into college life. The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)
(4/17)
| Educational Leadership | | |
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- Are teachers too isolated?
 A recent study shows teachers spend about 3% of their day collaborating with their colleagues -- meaning that educators most often plan lessons, teach and reflect alone. However, the writers of this article suggest that more be done to encourage collaboration among teachers -- as has been done in Finland and Japan. To accomplish this goal, they suggest a common nationwide curriculum, more investment in teacher training and support for collaboration that will help improve teaching and learning. TheAtlantic.com
(4/17)
| Technology Trends | | |
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- Facebook releases guide for school counselors
Facebook has released a new resource, "Facebook for School Counselors," intended to help counselors use the social-networking website and teach students how to use the site responsibly. The resource was released in collaboration with The Internet Keep Safe Coalition and The American School Counselor Association. The guide includes information about school policies, responding to online incidents and identifying risky online behavior. U.S. News & World Report
(4/16)
| Policy News | | |
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- Legal battle continues over private schools and Section 504
Some school-board associations are expressing support for public-school districts in a legal battle over whether districts must provide special-education services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to students who are attending private schools. "Congress did not intend through Section 504 for school districts to pay for students enrolled unilaterally in private schools by their parents," said Francisco M. Negrón Jr., general counsel of the National School Boards Association. Education Week/On Special Education blog
(4/17)
- Kansas school board moves toward regulating seclusion, restraint
State school-board officials in Kansas voted Tuesday to approve a plan to take steps to regulate the use of restraint and seclusion of students in the state's schools. "It is a clear indication they want to adopt regulations," said Rocky Nichols, executive director with the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, who spoke in support of creating new regulations. "The draft still needs some work. But this is an important positive step." The Topeka Capital-Journal (Kan.)
(4/17)
- Understanding public school funding in the U.S.
Public elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. will educate about 50 million students this year at a cost of about $1.5 trillion. Roughly 10.8% of that money comes from the federal government, while 48% comes from state governments. The remainder is funded locally through property taxes, which are heavily affected by economic conditions. Some say this formula is unfair for schools in disadvantaged areas, while schools in many areas are suffering under the current economic downturn, including the collapse of housing prices. CNN/Schools of Thought blog
(4/17)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
It's essential that we explicitly teach kids how visual information works—how to comprehend it and how to communicate with it. I See What You Mean is a practical guide to incorporating visual literacy—maps, diagrams, tables, graphs, and charts—throughout your K-8 curriculum. Preview the entire book online!
Interested in learning more about advertising in CEC SmartBrief? Contact Joe Riddle at (202) 407-7857 or jriddle@smartbrief.com.
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| CEC Spotlight | | |
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CEC/DEC Webinar: Implementing Tiered Instruction for Diverse Pre-K Learners
Creating effective learning opportunities is a challenge in teaching preschool-aged children with diverse abilities. This webinar, "Implementing Tiered Instruction for Diverse PreK Learners: Effective Teacher Decision Making at Tier I," will provide guidance on how to plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based teaching sequences at Tier I. Register today!
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Office of Special Education Programs accepts comments on State Personnel Development Grant program
The Office of Special Education Programs is now accepting comments on proposed priorities and definitions for State Personnel Development Grants to help State Educational Agencies in informing and improving their professional development and personnel preparation systems for children with disabilities. Comments must be submitted by May 14. Find out more in CEC's Policy Insider blog.
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