ED Gives Additional Guidance on Highly Qualified and Teacher Quality Grants

• ED Releases Guidance on Alternate Achievement Standards for NCLB
• ED Gives Additional Guidance on Highly Qualified and Teacher Quality Grants
• States Partner with Department of Health and Human Services to Offer Best Services to Those with Disabilities
• U.S. Surgeon General Renews Commitment On 15th Anniversary of ADA; Sets Goals
  

 

ED Releases Guidance on Alternate Achievement Standards for NCLB

Earlier this week, the Department of Education released "Alternate Achievement Standards for Students with the Most Significant Cogitative Disabilities – Non-Regulatory Guidance" regarding the use and development of alternate achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in assessment and accountability systems of NCLB. To read the full document, click on the following link http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/altguidance.pdf

Look for CEC’s analysis in an upcoming policy update.

ED Gives Additional Guidance on Highly Qualified and Teacher Quality Grants

Late last week, the Department of Education released a revised version of "Highly Qualified Teachers and Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Non-Regulatory Guidance". The Guidance includes revisions to previous questions and new questions on highly qualified teacher flexibility policies, revisions to the deadline by which paraprofessionals must become highly qualified (see CEC Public Policy Update, July 29,2005), and states that special education teachers of core academic subjects are to be highly qualified, as stated in NCLB and reinforced by the reauthorization of IDEA in 2004. In addition, the Guidance provides information on effective use of Title II, Part A funds. To view this revised document, go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherqual/guidance.pdf

States Partner with Department of Health and Human Services to Offer Best Services to Those with Disabilities

Last week, the National Governors Association (NGA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have partnered up to administer a policy academy of six states that will assist governors and their staff on the policies to help improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

Officials from the participating states – Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Montana and Washington – will share ideas on designing programs that work (and those that don’t) and will determine how the state’s resources align with the needs of individuals with disabilities. Read the full press release from NGA at
http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.6c9a8a9ebc6ae07eee28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=f96aa0e1ca775010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=759b8f2005361010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD

U.S. Surgeon General Renews Commitment On 15th Anniversary of ADA; Sets Goals

In a release to honor the 15th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) in late July, the U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona issued a “Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities”. As the nation’s chief health educator, Dr. Carmona outlined four goals to raise awareness for individuals with disabilities and health care professionals, including:
· Increase understanding nationwide that people with disabilities can lead long, healthy, and productive lives.
· Increase knowledge among health care professionals and provide them with tools to screen, diagnose, and treat the whole person with a disability with dignity.
· Increase awareness among people with disabilities of the steps they can take to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
· Increase accessible health care and support services to promote independence for people with disabilities.

To read Surgeon General Carmona’s full call to action, go to
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/disabilities/