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| Educational Leadership | | |
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- Researchers: Teacher observations should be used in preschools
Standardized observations should be used to ensure improvement among teachers and caregivers of even the youngest students, according to researchers and authors Lisa Guersney and Susan Ochshorn. "Today's early education system is weakened by discrepancies between standards and measurement tools used for K-12 teachers and those for professionals in child care and pre-K programs," Guersney and Ochshorn write. The pair were part of a recent panel discussion on the issue in New York City, where observation frameworks are being piloted in some classrooms. GothamSchools.org (New York)
(3/28)     
- Academics criticize Chicago's value-added teacher evaluations
Chicago's adoption of a new value-added evaluation system for the city's teachers is being criticized by professors and researchers from 16 area universities. They claim, in a letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and school officials, that there is not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of the evaluations. Instead, they recommend testing the teacher evaluations in a pilot program, while placing less emphasis on students' improvement on standardized tests. The Washington Post/The Answer Sheet blog
(3/28)
| Technology Trends | | |
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- Online app is designed to improve reading for those with disabilities
An online application by BrightStar Learning aimed at improving the reading skills of students with disabilities -- such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder -- is now available in the U.S. The BrightStar Reader mobile application features a game-like design meant to help students recognize "high-frequency" or "instant" words. T.H.E. Journal
(3/28)
- App facilitates communication for children with autism
Purdue University students have created the SPEAKall! iPad application designed to help children with autism communicate by choosing pictures and symbols to construct sentences. Since its debut on iTunes in November, the app has been downloaded nearly 3,300 times, said Oliver Wendt, a speech professor involved in the app's development. United Press International
(3/28)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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Interested in learning more about advertising in CEC SmartBrief? Contact Joe Riddle at (202) 407-7857 or jriddle@smartbrief.com.
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| Policy News | | |
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- Proposed budget cuts could affect special education in D.C. schools
Concerns about cutting funding for special-education coordinators in Washington, D.C., schools were among the issues discussed at a hearing Wednesday on the district's education budget for fiscal 2013. Some advocates say the coordinators, who manage the delivery of services to students with disabilities at the school level, are partly responsible for improvements that have been made in the district's special-education program. Under the budget proposal, the coordinators' duties would fall to school psychologists. The Washington Post/D.C. Schools Insider blog
(3/28)
- Should students be allowed to opt out of standardized tests?
A coalition of teachers is calling on parents nationwide to allow their children to opt out of state standardized testing. The group says an increased focus on high-stakes testing has led to a narrowing of the curriculum that is particularly harmful to students in low-performing schools. However, education officials say testing is mandatory for all students and maintain it is an important tool in determining whether students are mastering information. The Miami Herald (free registration)
(3/27)
- Fla. judge rules state-run insurance must cover autism therapy
A federal judge in Miami this week ruled that the state's Medicaid insurance program must pay for applied behavioral analysis for low-income children with autism. The state already requires private insurers to cover the therapy, and the judge ruled that less-affluent children should be entitled to the treatment as well. Some say the ruling could have implications in other states, where ABA therapy is not covered by similar programs for low-income residents. The Miami Herald (free registration)
(3/28)
| Eye on Exceptionalities | | |
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- Football player with disability credits teachers for academic success
Indiana University football player Nick Sliger, who has a learning disability, is expecting to earn an undergraduate degree in recreation sports management before pursuing a master's in sports administration in the fall. He credits his primary-school teachers with helping him to succeed. "They were the ones that got me to shoot for the highest goals, and that's what got me to be able to come to IU," he said. The Indianapolis Star
(3/29)
| CEC Spotlight | | |
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Speak Up 2012 for America's Future Teachers now open
Speak Up 2012 for America's Future Teachers is a unique opportunity for America's next generation of teachers to "speak up" about their views on their career choice and share their ideas about how to leverage technology within learning. The national data findings will be used to inform national policies on technology use in education, and to inform K-12 school and district leaders on the aspirations of tomorrow's teachers. The survey is open until May 11. Participate today!
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Theresa on Reality 101: Dealing with tough issues
This week Theresa deals with some tough issues as one of her students threatens to hurt her, the class, and himself. As the student takes time away from school, Theresa thinks about how to help him transition back to the classroom. Read all about it on Reality 101, CEC's blog for new teachers.
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does."
--Josh Billings,
American humorist
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| | Recent CEC SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, March 28, 2012
- Tuesday, March 27, 2012
- Monday, March 26, 2012
- Friday, March 23, 2012
- Thursday, March 22, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Trigie Ealey
Contributing Editor: Katharine Haber
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