Bridges4Kids News Digest

March 11, 2008

Bridges4Kids NewsDigest Topics

• National News	• Disability News
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB)	• Special Education Issues
• Parenting/Parental Involvement	• Ask the Attorney/Advocate
• Early Childhood	• Upcoming National Events
• Michigan News	• Upcoming Michigan Events
• Where to Find Help For a Child
• Visit Bridges4Kids

National News	top
How to Make Great Teachers There's little research on what makes for a successful merit-pay system, but several factors seem critical, says Matthew Springer, director of the National Center on Performance Incentives at Vanderbilt University. In Denver, for example, Professional Compensation, or ProComp, is the product of a seven-year collaboration among the teachers' union, the district and city hall. Rolled out last school year, ProComp includes nine ways for teachers to raise their earnings, some through bonuses and some through bumps in salary. New hires are automatically enrolled, while veterans have the option of sticking with the old salary schedule. But in just one year, half of Denver's 4,555 teachers have signed on. Denver's program includes several of the factors critical to success: a careful effort to earn teacher buy-in to the plan, clarity about how it works, multiple ways of measuring merit, rewards for teamwork and schoolwide success, and reliable financing. In fact, Denver's voters agreed to pay an extra $25 million a year in taxes for nine years to support the program. Film Raises Troubling Questions About U.S. Students At first blush, Brittany Brechbuhl and Neil Ahrendt seem American success stories: They attend Carmel High School, a gleaming glass-and-brick edifice in suburban Indianapolis, where taxpayer support buys a genetics lab, a swimming pool and a 91% graduation rate. Brittany is 28th in her class, with a nearly perfect GPA; Neil is a National Merit semifinalist and class president. What could possibly be wrong with this picture? Meaner Bullying is Leading Schools to Find New Tactics Gizelle Studevent, 17, a top-ranked basketball player being recruited by colleges such as Duke and Stanford, transferred from La Jolla Country Day School after facing years of bullying there. Today, parents are filing lawsuits against students and schools for failing to protect their children, administrators are taking stronger disciplinary action against perpetrators, and a virtual industry of anti-bullying programs has sprung up. Free Lunch Isn't Cool, So Some Students Go Hungry Although Francisco Velazquez, a 14-year-old freshman with spiky hair and sunglasses, qualifies for a free lunch at Balboa High School here, he was not eating. The stigma of accepting a government lunch, while others are paying for food from a different menu, is a problem many school districts across the country have been quietly confronting with mixed results, education and school nutrition officials said. San Francisco school officials are looking at ways to encourage more poor students to accept government-financed meals, including the possibility of introducing cashless cafeterias where all students are offered the same food choices and use debit cards or punch in codes on a keypad so that all students check out at the cashier in the same manner. A Different Kind of Home Schooling The son of poor laborers in rural Mexico, Ocario Gonzalez doesn't remember his parents ever helping with his schoolwork. After struggling with his studies for a few years, Gonzalez left school at 12. Now the 42-year-old South Los Angeles factory worker is trying to break that cycle with his daughter, Carolina. Retired Teacher Reveals He Was Illiterate Until Age 48 John Corcoran graduated from college and taught high school for 17 years without being able to read, write or spell. CA Home Schooling Case: Rachel L v LA County Department of Children and Family Services In the context of a child under California protective services jurisdiction, In re Rachel L holds it is not unconstitutional to require home schoolers to obtain teaching certification ("credentials"), just as any other teacher would be statutorily required to do. The 2/28/08 decision and the 3/07/08 amendment to that decision are available for download.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)	top
MI Detroit Schools Graduation Rate: 32% http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-08/DetroitNews2-25-08.html Just 31.9% of Detroit students graduate in four years, according to the first major study in Michigan conducted using a method now mandated by the federal government. For more information on No Child Left Behind, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/ESEA.html
Parenting/Parental Involvement	top
Cutting TV Time Makes Children Healthier, Says US Study http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/mar/04/medicalresearch.health1 "Television viewing is related to consumption of fast food and foods and beverages that are advertised on television. Viewing cartoons with embedded food commercials can increase choice of the advertised item in pre-schoolers, and television commercials may prompt eating," Leonard Epstein of the State University of New York in Buffalo and his colleagues wrote in the journal Archives of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Online Resources Cater to Caregivers http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/02/25/the_web_gives_boomer_caregivers_a_boost/ Caregiver Helper, one of several popular Web site services focusing on taking care of loved ones, provides information on emergency contacts, medications, the patient's favorite activities and appointments. Other sites, such as Lotsa Helping Hands, Care.com and Parent Care Call also help families manage caregiving responsibilities. "Web-based services are becoming an integral part of the decision-making process, helping families navigate the increasingly complicated health care system," said one expert. MI Camp Gives Special Kids Respite From Everyday Life http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080223/OPINION03/802230406/1038/LIFESTYLE01 Since its inception in 1928, Camp Grace Bentley, located just north of Port Huron on the shore of Lake Huron has been a dream come true for parents and kids with a range of physical and mental challenges. For nine magical days in four sessions beginning in late June and running through mid-August, kids get to feel no different from anybody else -- they get to be themselves -- and parents get a much needed respite. For more information on Parenting, Siblings, Adoption and Foster Care, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Parenting.html
Early Childhood	top
Study: Pregnant Women Exposed to Household Pesticides May Increase the Risk of Their Children Developing Leukemia http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2008/2008-0205rudantetal.html In the study, parents of leukemia patients were more likely to have used pesticides and insecticides either at home or at work. Exposure to these chemicals is a risk factor for blood cancers, particularly if children are exposed in the womb, the authors' conclude. Phthalate Chemicals Found in Infants http://www.environmentreport.org/story.php3?story_id=3882 Infants are widely exposed to a class of chemicals that might be harmful to their reproductive systems. That's according to new research published in the journal Pediatrics. How Safe is Your Baby's Bottle? http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/LIVING/803030302/1032 Study sparks debate over safety of hard plastic baby bottles. MI Michigan Child Care Task Force Minutes for January 9, 2008 Meeting (PDF) http://earlychildhoodmichigan.org/MCCTFMinutes1-09-08.pdf MI Bill Could Mean Fewer Kids In Special Ed http://earlychildhoodmichigan.org/articles/MIRS2-21-08.htm Advocates say fewer kids would end up in special education under the latest introduction of the early-intervention bill that moved from the Senate Education Committee today. For more information on Early Childhood issues, visit www.EarlyChildhoodMichigan.org
Michigan News	top
Research Study: U of M Adapted Cognitive Assessment Lab http://www.bridges4kids.org/ANAC3-08.doc.pdf The University of Michigan and Mary Freebed Rehabilitation Hospital are offering opportunities for children with Cerebral Palsy to participate in a literacy research study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Michigan Application Under Part B of IDEA (08) Available As required by federal law, Michigan’s Annual State Application under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 is currently available for a period of public review from March 7, 2008 through May 7, 2008. Written comment will be accepted from March 14, 2008 until April 14, 2008. This document is available on the Michigan Department of Education's Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/ose-eis. State Plan to Reduce Mercury Depends on Finding Money http://blog.mlive.com/cns/2008/02/state_plan_to_reduce_mercury_d.html The Department of Environmental Quality plans to eliminate the use and release of mercury in Michigan - if it has the money. A report from a DEQ work group calls for legislation to regulate the toxic metal. It makes 67 recommendations that would develop a "baseline level" of naturally occurring mercury in order to track human-caused emissions.
Disability News	top
Persistence Found to be Key to Treating Depressed Teens Teenagers whose initial drug treatment fails to combat depression, which happens in four out of 10 cases, can be helped by switching medicine and adding psychotherapy, a U.S. study published on Tuesday said. Popular YouTube Video Draws Attention to Active Autism Community Amanda Baggs, 27, who has autism, is using YouTube to explain how her own repetitive behaviors allow her to interact with her environment. Baggs' YouTube video, meant as a political statement, has garnered more than 300,000 hits. Library Journal Review of "Understanding Brothers and Sisters on the Autism Spectrum" (DVD) "The Coulters have produced a great resource for families who have children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and siblings who are neurotypical (NT). The DVD is divided into four programs, three geared toward children of various ages and one for parents. The filmmakers brilliantly use interviews with NT siblings and parents to document the issues that exist among family members. The sections geared toward children are hosted by Jessie Coulter, who does a great job of explaining and framing sibling issues with segments of those interviews. The programs geared toward children provide excellent modeling behavior, especially when discussing the negative attention that comes with having a sibling with ASD who is seemingly behaving poorly in public. These NT high school-age interviewees show maturity beyond their years and provide pointers and coping mechanisms that will help viewers better understand their siblings. The section for parents is particularly useful, as they are forced to strike a balance between the child with special needs and those without. This program is strongly recommended for all libraries."—Corey Seeman, Kresge Business Administration Lib., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor Vancouver Couple Show Autism, Romance Can Coexist Emilia Murry Ramey and Jody John Ramey met through a mutual friend. They soon discovered they had more in common than their friend. Both were students at Portland State University. And both have autism. Government Concedes Vaccine-Autism Case in Federal Court - Now What? After years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the US government has quietly conceded a vaccine-autism case in the Court of Federal Claims. Vaccine Manufacturer Claims Victory in Thimerosal Case A Baltimore judge granted a summary judgment motion in favor of drug company Wyeth after finding that "it is generally accepted in the relevant scientific community that thimerosal in vaccines does not cause or contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism." One family sued the company in 2004, alleging that their son's autism had been caused by the thimerosal preservative in vaccines manufactured by Wyeth. University of Northern Iowa Professors Probe Link Between Mercury and Autism http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/02/24/news/top_story/doc47c03669cc06a508014273.txt A research article published by a pair of University of Northern Iowa professors concludes the link between mercury and autism can’t be ruled out and needs further study. The results don’t prove mercury exposure causes autism, a developmental disability that can affect language and social skills. For more information on Disabilities, Disorders and Diseases, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Disabilities.html
Special Education Issues	top
Crisis Management - Step by Step http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/Crisis.html Quality special education services are intensive, individualized and expensive. Because parents want quality services for their children, parent-school conflict is normal, predictable . . . and inevitable. Educators believe they are “the experts” in educating children. Some educators and service providers feel threatened by strong, articulate parents who are active advocates for their children. How do schools deal with perceived threats? Some schools try to limit parents’ ability to advocate for their children. In this article, you will learn how to manage a crisis with the school. We describe typical parent-school crises that cause parents to seek outside help. You will learn that a crisis has two sides: danger and opportunity. We will describe how to avoid common pitfalls and provide strategies you can use to weather a crisis. Private School Case: Jarron Draper v. Atlanta Independent School System Case: http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/08/11th.jdraper.atlanta.htm Article: http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/08/al.0310.draper.htm On March 6, 2008, the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the decision of the District Court in Jarron Draper v. Atlanta Independent School System (11th Cir. 2008), and ordered Atlanta Independent School System to pay Jarron's tuition at a private school for four years as prospective compensatory education for their failure to educate him. How to Resolve Special Education Disputes http://www.nichcy.org/training/contents.asp#ThemeE In drafting the provisions of IDEA, Congress clearly contemplated that, at times, there would be disagreements between parents of children with disabilities and the school districts providing special education and related services to their children. When such disagreements occur, parents and school districts can turn to IDEA’s dispute resolution options. Find out what those options are---there’s a new one. NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, has posted a training module covering Options for Dispute Resolution which includes PowerPoint slide shows to use in training sessions, a detailed discussion of IDEA for trainers, and handouts for audience participants. NH Education equals FUTURE http://www.educationfuture.info/ Acollection of resources designed to help parents, professionals, and community members learn about issues related to the education of students with disabilities with a New Hampshire focus. We provide links to articles, advocacy tools, training modules, guides, and links to other resources including legislative updates, state and federal special education laws all in one convenient location. For more information on Special Education, IEPs and Section 504, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Rules.html
Ask the Attorney/Advocate	top
Visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/AA.html for dozens of John's previously posted Q&As.
Upcoming National Events	top
These are NEW calendar listings that have been added this week, along with events taking place this week. To view a complete calendar of National events, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Conferences.html Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. Presents 2007-2008 Free Training Series: What’s Out There and How to Get It DESCRIPTION: For Families and Professionals Needing Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities. WHEN/WHERE: Dates/Locations vary. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, contact Gary Shulman, MS.Ed. at 212-677-4650, gshulman@resourcesnyc.org, http://www.resourcesnyc.org, or http://www.resourcesnycdatabase.org. Bronx Location: Jewish Child Care Association 555 Bergen Ave. Bronx 10455 Bronx Dates: April 9, 2008 Community Resources 10 AM-12 Noon. Manhattan Location: Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. 116 E. 16th St. 5th Floor NY, NY 10003 Manhattan Dates: March 13, 2008 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 10 AM-1 PM; March 27, 2008 Community Resources 6 PM-8 PM; April 2, 2008 Transition from School to Adult Life 10 AM-1 PM; April 10, 2008 Early Childhood Services: Birth to 5 6 PM-8 PM. Staten Island Location: Joan and Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, 1466 Manor Road, Staten Island NY 10314 Staten Island Dates: March 18, 2008 Advocacy Skills for Parents 10 AM-1 PM; April 15, 2008 Community Resources 10 AM-12 Noon. Postsecondary Disability Training Institute WHEN: June 10-13 & 14, 2008 from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. WHERE: Portland, Maine FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit our website at www.cped.uconn.edu for detailed Institute information.
Upcoming Michigan Events	*top*
These are NEW calendar listings that have been added this week, along with events taking place this week. To view a complete calendar of Michigan events, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Conferences.html Michigan’s Conference for Lead Safe & Healthy Homes WHEN: April 22, 2008 WHERE: Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, East Lansing, MI DESCRIPTION: This conference is intended for public health staff (nursing and environmental health), health officers, WIC staff, lead professionals, physicians, educators, community advocates, social workers, home visitors, daycare providers, rental property owners and managers, local, county and state legislators, and housing rehab contractors and workers. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information contact Tarah Collins at (517) 324-8329 or tcollins@mphi.org. Wrightslaw Special Ed Law and Advocacy Training WHEN: April 23, 2008 WHERE: Livonia, MI FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit http://www.mygreatkid.com. Community "Rolling" Event WHEN: Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: WKAR Studios DESCRIPTION: This event will include both an extensive resource room and a program featuring several speakers, a musical performance and a preview of the national documentary. The day-long event will include a resource room featuring organizations dealing with wheelchair use, independent living, and special needs, among other related topics. Those attending the free event will be able to pick up information and talk with representatives from participating organizations. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit http://www.wkar.org.
Bridges4Kids NewsDigest Staff Deborah Canja Chief Executive Officer deb@bridges4kids.org Jackie Igafo-Te'o Director of Information Technology & Information Systems jackie@bridges4kids.org Bella Djordjevski Resource Assistant news@bridges4kids.org