A recent Dear Colleague letter from the U.S. Department of Education outlines the importance of conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments in school to promote positive learning environments for students with and without disabilities. Many students with disabilities exhibit behaviors that interfere with their education in some way, either by directly impacting their ability to focus and […]
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The Federal Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights Reacts to Rising Discrimination Reports by Reminding Schools of their Responsibility to Provide Students a Discrimination-Free School Environment Responding to “a nationwide rise in complaints of discrimination against students, including against Muslim, Arab, Sikh, South Asian, Hindu, and Palestinian students in schools,”[1] the U.S. Department of
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While Florida’s “anti-woke” teaching restrictions continue to face legal challenges[1] and districts across the country face scrutiny on how they offer inclusive curricula,[2] the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has issued a Dear Colleague Letter clarifying how schools may “develop curricula or engage in activities that promote racially inclusive school communities”[3] consistent
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Assistive Technology can help your child with disabilities achieve educational outcomes and schools are required to provide it under federal special education law. What is Assistive Technology? Assistive Technology (AT) is any tool – high tech or low tech – that helps your child with disabilities learn or live more functionally. AT runs the gamut
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“In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) limited the number of students a state can assess with an alternative assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) to 1.0 percent of all students tested in each subject area.”[1] Using alternative assessments raises concerns that schools are not holding high expectations of grade level achievement
Minnesota Exceeds Federal 1% Limit for Alternative Assessment Standards Read More »
November 20, 2023 In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act to give people with disabilities equal access to services like public education. But data recently released by the U.S. Department of Education revealed the rate at which special-needs students are disciplined and raises questions about how equal that access truly is. The data, which looked
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The Israel-Hamas war has led to a nationwide increase in discrimination, antisemitism and hate crimes. The discord has been particularly rampant on college campuses. As universities struggle to address the conflict, the Department of Education released a letter on November 7, 2023, reminding schools of their legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
July 2023 On January 28, 2022, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) issued a Letter of Findings (LOF) in which it ruled Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) at fault for noncompliance regarding Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs). The Letter of Findings concluded that LCPS was in noncompliance for maintaining cost containment criteria that were too low
October 2023 MDE released this guide to help school districts, charter schools, and parents/guardians understand their roles and rights as it relates to providing special education and related services when facing staff shortages of qualified education teachers, related service providers, paraprofessionals, and other essential staff. MDE encourages all parties to work collaboratively, remain flexible and
October 2023 A new provision in Minnesota provides special education and services to children with disabilities until the age of 22, as opposed to the previous version of the law which allowed for services until the age of 21. MDE released this document to provide guidance to the public on the newly enacted Minnesota law.