Advocating for Children with Special Needs: National PTA Legislative Conference 2015 Lindsay E. Jones, Esq. Director, Policy & Advocacy 1.

Advocating for Children with Special Needs:

National PTA Legislative Conference 2015

Lindsay E. Jones, Esq.

Director, Policy & Advocacy1

Today’s AGENDA

• ESEA • Opportunities• Threats

• IDEA• Hot Topics

• 3rd Grade Reading, CBE

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Through Your Child’s Eyes

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It would be a game changer for policy to embrace the notion that these kids learn differently, not less than. - Michael Yudin, U.S. Department of Education

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Perception Problem

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said, ‘‘Hey, this kid's a good speaker. He can't focus, but he loves walking around and

getting people energized.” No one said, ‘‘Get him a coach in speaking."

-Cameron Herold, ADHD

In grade two, I won a city-wide speaking competition, but nobody ever

Entrepreneur/Self Advocates:

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OSEP Letter on RTI

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ESEA / NCLB

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ESEA is Important because most SWD spend the full day in General Education

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Important Improvement

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Important Improvement

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• When schools are held accountable for the performance of SWD, they are more likely to:•  Deliberately move SWD from self-

contained settings to regular education classrooms.

• Provide 2-3 hours/day of extra instruction in reading and math for students with disabilities.

• Have access to co-teaching (general and special educators)

NCEE Report (Feb 2015)

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Opportunities & Threats

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Opportunities & Threats

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It’s a misperception that students with learning and attention issues can’t do well.  We should have high expectations for these kids, too.

- Laura, Mother of 9th Grader with Dyslexia (and in advanced Math) from Maryland

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The Empowering Parents & Students Through Information Act S.528 introduced by Senator Casey (PA) would ensure that parents are actively involved in the decision for their child to be assessed using an AA-AAS. Parents must give informed consent and be made fully aware of how taking the AA-AAS will impact their child’s future.

Alternative Assessment Bills

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The Every Child Counts Act 2.516 introduced by Senator Murphy (CT) would ensure that students with disabilities are not pushed into alternative assessments simply to boost school scores by providing a cap on the number of students who can take these tests. This would ensure students are included in the general curriculum as much as possible and parents have information about how their kids are doing.

Questions?

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IDEA

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IDEA: Transition

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2014 Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship Recipient

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• “The hardest part of my • journey with LD hasn’t been• the tests or even the grades. It’s been the

low expectations for kids who learn differently. …the truth is that this struggle has made me stronger. I’m ready to take on anything! – Kaila Hatton

Twice Exceptional Students

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• According to a literature review by the WV Department of Education, teachers were less willing to refer a student with gifted characteristics for gifted education if they were told the student had a learning disability.

• Students who receive IDEA services make up 12% of all high school students but only 2% of students enrolled in an AP course.

• On February 12th, Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, H.R. 927.

• This would require limiting restraint and seclusion to imminent threats of physical danger; same-day parental notification; ban dangerous restraints; and implement training on prevention.

Restraint & Seclusion

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• HELP committee member Senator Casey will be releasing the Keep Kids in School Act which aims to reduce suspensions and expulsions in schools.

• He also recently introduced the Prepare All Kids Act (March 4th, 2015).

Discipline and Restorative Justice

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Questions?

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New Hot Issues

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• 3rd Grade Reading Laws

• Competency Based Education (CBE) – Personalized Learning

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Questions?

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CBE

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Questions?

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On to the Hill!!!

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Rand Paul’s 11th Hour Amendment

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