Bridges4Kids News Digest

April 12, 2007

Bridges4Kids NewsDigest Topics

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

National News	top
Verizon to Invest $31 Million in Interactive Education Program http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=174000024 The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, has announced a three-year, $31 million commitment to its signature educational and literacy program, which provides free online educational resources to teachers, students, and community organizations. Excellence in the Classroom http://www.futureofchildren.org/pubs-info2825/pubs-info_show.htm?doc_id=468970 A new volume from The Future of Children concludes that good teachers make a difference. According to the 15 leading scholars who contributed to the journal, the most promising way to improve teacher quality is to broaden entry requirements, identify and promote effective teachers, provide additional pay to successful teachers who work in challenging schools, and promote meaningful professional development. Five Tips for New Teacher Success (Book) http://books.google.com/books?id=pJVSNgpYmGcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%&ie=ISO-8859-1 Here are five tips from Lynn F. Howard on what principals can do to support new teacher success: (1) Never let them feel isolated. New teachers want to know that they are not alone as they struggle to learn to manage and organize a classroom. Take time to share refreshments, have discussions, trade your stories of success and build excitement and energy at every opportunity; (2) Be visible -- everyday. Many new teachers say that visibility and personal interaction with the principal is the number one factor that would make the difference in their decision to stay or leave a particular school. Visiting classrooms regularly, promoting success, and allowing time for discussion and questions are powerful motivators for beginning teachers; (3) Provide the skills and knowledge needed for their success. All new teachers want help with classroom management, building relationships, strategic planning with lesson design, observations and evaluations and testing. Provide new teachers with step-by-step strategies and activities that build both confidence and competence; (4) Allow time for growth and reflection. Knowing what works and what does not allows new teacher to identify areas of growth and strength while determining specific areas that need improvement; and (5) Celebrate! Learning to teach is a long process and celebrating small, incremental steps is one way to recognize growth and achievement. Write positive notes, provide special treats or just say "Thank You" for coming to school. The rewards in teaching are often intrinsic and we must recognize the little things that happen every day that make school a good place to be. Reviews from the What Works Clearinghouse: Dropout Prevention http://www.whatworks.ed.gov/Topic.asp?tid=06&ReturnPage=default.asp The What Works Clearinghouse of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences has published reviews of two dropout prevention interventions: Middle College High School and Twelve Together. Job Opportunity: Fundraising Internship The Mental Health America Resource Development department offers interns the opportunity to support corporate, foundation and individual fundraising efforts. Development interns research potential targets, track foundation activity and outreach efforts, draft communications (including letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and personal correspondence), and work across all MHA programs and departments to seek funding to support our vital mission. Only creative, organized and ambitious individuals need apply. If interested, please apply via e-mail to interns@mentalhealthamerica.net Job Opportunity: Marketing Internship The Mental Health America Resource Development department offers interns the opportunity to support various marketing efforts through prospect identification for cause-related marketing campaigns. Also responsible for maintaining contact database, assist with planning special events, tracking department functions and outreach efforts, brainstorm creative partnership strategies, and work across all MHA programs and departments to seek funding to support our vital mission. Only creative, organized and ambitious individuals need apply. If interested, please apply via e-mail to interns@mentalhealthamerica.net Federal Student Aid FAFSA4caster http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov FAFSA4caster provides college-bound students and their families an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. The FAFSA4caster Web site also provides information on the financial aid process; the various types of federal student aid; and other sources of aid, such as grants and scholarships. When users are ready to actually apply for aid, they can easily transition from FAFSA4caster to FAFSA on the Web—much of the information that they entered in the FAFSA4caster will populate their FAFSA on the Web application. High School Juniors: Apply for a QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship http://www.questbridge.org/access/collegepreptext/ The QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship is designed to level the playing field for outstanding low-income high school juniors by providing opportunities to help them prepare to apply to leading schools. The program awards a full scholarship to QuestBridge’s summer program, coverage of expenses for college travel visits, an SAT prep course and material, and a new laptop computer. Application deadline: May 31, 2007.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)	top
MI What Now? Lessons from Michigan About Restructuring Schools and Next Steps Under NCLB http://www.cep-dc.org/nclb/michigan/ CEP’s third review of school restructuring in Michigan finds that over half of Michigan’s 90 restructuring schools improved student achievement enough to meet the state’s AYP targets for two consecutive years, allowing them to graduate out of the school improvement designation altogether. A CEP analysis of the restructuring approaches used indicates that no single factor is most responsible for improving student achievement. Instead, schools that implemented five more reforms over the past two years were significantly more likely to exit restructuring than were other restructuring schools. For more information on No Child Left Behind, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/ESEA.html
Parenting/Parental Involvement	top
Dealing with a Master of Deception: Homework Refusal & Failure http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/homework.refusal.htm In Dealing with a Master of Deception: Homework Refusal & School Failure, Sue Heath analyzes this parent's concerns, identifies key issues, and offers strategies to resolve the problems. How to Solve Problems and Protect Parent-School Relationships http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.probs.protect.htm "Our seven-year old child has autism. After his aide told us that he has not received all the speech language and OT services called for in his IEP, we wrote letters demanding that the school make up the missing sessions. Now the teacher and special ed supervisor are angry with the aide. They told her that she cannot tell us anything that goes on at school. Doesn't the aide have a right to communicate with us? Is there any law we can refer to?" Parent Group of the Year 2007 Contest http://www.ptotoday.com/pgy/details.html PTO Today’s Parent Group of the Year Contest is an opportunity for parent groups—including PTOs, PTAs, HSAs, and PTCs – to showcase their work while giving their school the chance to win cash and prizes. Parent groups can enter in one or more of the following categories: outstanding parent group at a small school, outstanding parent group at a private or parochial school, outstanding new parent group, outstanding family event, outstanding job on a completed major project, outstanding effort to overcome adversity, outstanding outreach to a multicultural parent base, and outstanding community service project. Deadline: May 31, 2007. For more information on Parenting, Siblings, Adoption and Foster Care, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Parenting.html
Early Childhood	top
Standardized Test for Preschoolers May Be Suspended http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031700913.html Congress is moving to end a standardized test backed by the Bush administration and given to hundreds of thousands of preschool children in Head Start programs each year, amid complaints from early childhood experts that the exam is developmentally inappropriate and poorly designed. MI Tim Skubick: Educate Now, or Pay For it Later http://www.earlychildhoodmichigan.org/articles/2-07/LSJ3-23-07.htm It's the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean they'll do it. In fact this concept could die a slow and agonizing legislative death because it sounds way too radical, too expensive - and has racial overtones to boot. House Democrats recently embraced a way to improve the education of our children. In a nutshell, get them into the classroom before age five. The concept has been bouncing around for years, but remains just that - a concept. Product Recall: Orange “Fun Ball” Basketball Sold at Dollar Stores Recalled Due to Lead Hazard http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07141.html The stuffed balls contain lead paint, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. It is an orange stuffed ball toy that measures 4 inches in diameter and designed to look like a basketball. The ball is printed with colored numbers, letters and "Reg. #PA-10623(HK)." For more information on Early Childhood issues, visit www.EarlyChildhoodMichigan.org
Disability News	top
Autism: It’s Not Just in the Head http://discovermagazine.com/2007/apr/autism-it2019s-not-just-in-the-head/article_view?b_start:int=0&-C= The devastating derangements of autism also show up in the gut and in the immune system. That unexpected discovery is sparking new treatments that target the body in addition to the brain. Environmental Exposures and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs): Making the Connection (PDF) http://healthandenvironment.org/?module=uploads&func=download&fileId=341 Paper by Claudia S. Miller, MD, MS. An Emerging Paradigm: Chemical Exposures and Health (PDF) http://healthandenvironment.org/?module=uploads&func=download&fileId=342 Interview by Bonnie J. Horrigan, Explore: September/October, 2006, Vol. 2, No. 5. Whispering Hope Ranch http://www.whisperinghoperanch.org This camp/ranch provides a retreat for individuals with physical or developmental challenges, their families and caregivers. The ranch is also a sanctuary for a hundred animal residents that were born with physical differences or have come from difficult circumstances. The unconditional affection of these animals provides a unique therapeutic experience for Whispering Hope Ranch campers. The Ranch consists of 47-acres adjacent to the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona. Since being established, thousands of special needs children, elderly groups, adults and families have visited the Ranch for day programs, retreats and organized camps focused primarily on nature programs and animal assisted activities. For more information on Disabilities, Disorders and Diseases, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Disabilities.html
Special Education Issues	top
GA Atlanta Schools Told to Pay up to $136,600 For Private Tuition: Student's Dyslexia was Misdiagnosed http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/3-07/AJC3-23-07.html A federal judge has ordered Atlanta Public Schools to pay for a former student misdiagnosed as mentally disabled to go to private school to get his high school diploma. The student, Jarron Draper, now 20, has been out of school since June, stocking shelves at Target and working full time as a security guard while he and his family fought for an education that he hopes will get him into college. Q&A Documents on the IDEA 2004 Regulations from OSEP http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,dynamic,QaCorner The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has published a series of Q&A documents from their recent regional implementation meetings on the IDEA 2004 regulations. The documents address highly qualified teachers serving children with disabilities; IEPs, evaluations, and reevaluations; monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement; procedural safeguards and due process procedures; Response to Intervention and Early Intervening Services; serving children with disabilities placed by their parents at private schools; the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard; and discipline procedures. Questions and Answers on Procedural Safeguards and Due Process Procedures for Parents and Children with Disabilities (Word Document) http://www.directionservice.org/pdf/Q%20&%20A%20on%20Procedural%20Safeguards.doc This is the most recent Q&A document on Procedural Safeguards from the Office of Special Education Programs. It covers state complaint procedures, mediation, due process complaints, and the resolution process. IDEA Dispute Resolution Process Comparison Chart (PDF) http://www.directionservice.org/pdf/IDEA%20DR%20Process%20Comparison%20Chart.pdf This comparison chart was presented at the IDEA Regional Implementation Meetings in January and February 2007. It answers the following questions regarding mediation, due process complaint, resolution process, and state complaint: Who can initiate the process? What is the time limit for filing? What issues can be resolved? What is the timeline for resolving the issues? Who resolves the issues? MI Reaching Agreement Newsletter http://www.cenmi.org/msemp/ReachingAgreement/index.asp Published by the Michigan Special Education Mediation Program twice a year to inform the special education and early intervention communities about activities and resources available for resolving disputes. For more information on Special Education, IEPs and Section 504, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Rules.html
Ask the Attorney/Advocate	top
Bridges4Kids Exclusive: Ask the Attorney with John Brower 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 Breaking Ranks 2007 Urban Secondary School Showcase WHEN: April 23-24, 2007 WHERE: Chicago, IL DESCRIPTION: This showcase will highlight more than 20 of the nation’s most innovative and successful middle and high schools. Participants will learn the strategies and techniques that have made these schools leaders in secondary education. Presented by the Center for Secondary School Redesign and the National Association for Secondary School Principals. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit http://www.cssr.us/showbrochic07.htm. Imagine . . . Everybody Works WHEN: May 10-11, 2007 WHERE: Columbus, OH DESCRIPTION: This conference will help people engaged in employment for individuals with autism share information, sharpen their skills, and renew their commitment to advancing employment in their own communities. Participants will enjoy quality speakers, productive dialogues, formal and informal networking, and exhibits from vendors of tools and techniques they can utilize to enhance the employment outcomes and the lives of people with disabilities. Presented by the Autism Society of America and APSE: The Network on Employment. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, click here. Postsecondary Disability Training Institute WHEN: June 12-16, 2007 WHERE: Saratoga Springs, New York DESCRIPTION: The objective of this Training Institute is to assist concerned professionals to meet the unique needs of college students with disabilities. Participants can select from a variety of Strands, Single Sessions, and a Saturday Post-Session taught by experts in the field, which provide participants with in-depth information and adequate time for questions and follow-up discussions. Participants also have opportunities to share information and network throughout the week. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit http://www.cped.uconn.edu/07pti.htm. Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators WHEN: August 3-5, 2007 WHERE: Sheraton Hotel, Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA (412-261-2000) FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Bob Conti by phone at 412-885-8541, by fax at 412-885-8548 or by email at minspeak@minspeak.org. Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities with Dr. Vincent Carbone, BCBA WHEN: December 10-12, 2007 WHERE: Doubletree Hotel Augusta, 2651 Perimeter Parkway, Augusta, GA 30909 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Tammy Evans at te1969@netzero.com or 706-831-1107.
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 2007 Early On® Annual Conference: Supporting Development through Teaming WHEN: April 26-27, 2007 WHERE: Frankenmuth's Bavarian Inn Lodge & Conference Center, Frankenmuth, MI DESCRIPTION: Come join us this spring for an educational, enlightening, and enjoyable conference. There will be presentations on: Autism, Speech & Communication Support, Failure to Thrive, Working with Migrant Families, and Low-Tech Assistive Devices. Debbie Lively, Professor at Saginaw Valley State University, will present her keynote, “Meeting the Needs of Families through Teamwork.” Gain new insights, fresh ideas, and a renewed team spirit for your work with families and colleagues. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Download the conference brochure, find more information or register on-line at http://1800earlyon.org/About/EOcoordinators.phpCalendar/event.php?ID=937 3rd Annual Crop 4 Autism Awareness Scrapbook Marathon WHEN: Saturday, April 28, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Macomb ISD Building, 44001 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township MI 48038 DESCRIPTION: The cost to participate is $40/Full Day or $20/Half Day per person. Sponsored by the Macomb/St Clair County Chapter/ASA. Proceeds to benefit our "Wish List" Grant Program. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For registration form and more information log onto http://www.crop4autismawareness.com. Michigan PTSA 89th Annual Convention & Fundraising Expo WHEN: Friday, May 4, 2007 WHERE: Sterling Inn, Conference Center & Indoor Water Park FOR MORE INFORMATION: Feel free to call 517-622-4PTA if you have any questions. Universal Education WHEN: May 9, 2007 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. WHERE: MISD Educational Services Center located at 44001 Garfield Road, South of Hall Road in Clinton Twp., Room 103A DESCRIPTION: What it Looks Like; Also an open discussion about the MI Seclusion and Restraint Policy. This special meeting will feature speaker Elizabeth Bauer who currently serves on the Michigan State Board of Education. For detailed information on this meeting, download the flyer (PDF). FOR MORE INFORMATION: All meetings require no fee and light refreshments are served. If planning to attend, please RSVP at gammicca@comcast.net or call (586) 703-3866. Parent Empowerment Boot Camp: Mediation & Facilitated IEPs WHEN: May 11, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. WHERE: MISD Educational Services Center located at 44001 Garfield Road, South of Hall Road in Clinton Twp., Room 203 A/B DESCRIPTION: Are you a parent that is seeking assistance with your child’s educational process? Does your child have an I.E.P. that is not meeting their needs? Do you need answers about what your options are? For detailed information on this meeting, download the flyer and registration form (PDF). FOR MORE INFORMATION: The Boot Camp training sessions will be conducted by staff of the Mt. Clemens Resolution Center. Participants must R.S.V.P. before May 4th to attend and there is a $15.00 fee for t-shirts, lunch, and materials. To register, download the registration form or call (586) 703-3966.
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