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Miriam’s provocative article, “Where is Willie Sutton When We Need Him to Fix Special Education?” Copyright (C) 2011 by Texas Study of Secondary Education, Texas Association of Secondary School Principals.  All rights reserved. It is published in the Spring 2011 Texas Study of Secondary Education, TASSP (Texas Association of Secondary School Principals). www.tassp.org.

A must read for all. And not a moment too soon, I might add!  Our endless focus on teachers only will not get us where we need to be. For education, students need to be active participants in their own learning.  And parents need to support our schools. Only with this full-blown partnership will we finally see real and sustained progress. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/walt_gardners_reality_check/2011/03/student_responsibility_for_learning_part_ii.html It's so obvious! Yet, until now, [...]

We, in America, need to raise the status of teachers.  So says the study discussed in today's NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/education/16teachers.html.  Instead, so much of what we do, lowers their status and we should not be surprised by the negative outcomes of that approach. One place the status issue is 'hot' is in special education--though it is not discussed. The very concept of parents  'advocating' for their children against the school--sets up a negative status for [...]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/opinion/15engel.html?src=me&ref=homepage HMM. Teach students independence? I remember when we lived in Paris and my daughter went to part of 8th grade at a local Parisian high school. Students were able to leave the school, wander all over the city during free periods, lunch hour, etc.  They learned independence. Then we came back to the US  to the shock of an essentially 'lock-down' situation at the local junior high school. No leaving that junior [...]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/school-turnaroundsreform/fact-challenged-education-poli.html I've said it so often. The Massachusetts superintendents' study around 10 years ago already said it.  And now finally, it's in the Washington Post-- the mainstream press!  Costs for special education continue to rise while costs for regular education continue to fall. This is NOT the way to improve schools. We must transform special education, the only entitlement program in our [...]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704758904576188453057819300.html?mod=ITP_personaljournal_0 This is a great article.  Children are taught to set goals; in one program, these are SMART  goals--"Specific, Measurable, Attainable goals with clear Results in a set Time frame."  A good read for all teachers and parents. And, surely, this is what the Individualized Education Program (IEP) in special education was supposed to be for many students. A way to promote goals and [...]

Last week's report of the GAO's (Government Accountability Office) report showing tremendous duplication of programs and services did create  waves.  Both parties apparently found lots to like in the report.   Yet, as I read reactions around the country, I could not help but wonder why there was no mention of this:  Do we really need three federal laws and 50 state laws to educate children with disabilities?  Today, we have the federal special education law (IDEA), Section 504, and the [...]

It’s time for STEP Three!  As you know, every month, we’ll post a STEP  to FIX special education.  There are 12 steps. By December 2011, the makings for systemic transformation should be well underway! Please share your comments and let us know the steps you are taking to fix special education.   March 2011—Step Three toward climate change in our schools Reduce the bureaucratic morass. Paperwork is NOT education. Documents DON”T teach.   Most folks agree that bureaucracy gets in the way [...]

http://www.joannejacobs.com/2011/03/breakfast-with-arne Interesting.   I also read Dana Goldstein's summary of Arne Duncan's breakfast with bloggers. Wish I'd been there! If I were, I'd cite the need to reform special education--and the fact that this issue is usually ignored in discussion about education reform. We mention class size, unions, collaboration, etc., etc., etc.,  but ignore a huge chunk of what goes on schools. Special education is the ONLY entitlement program there. It [...]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carleton-kendrick/a-harvard-interviewers-ha_b_829111.html?ir=College I enjoyed reading this piece, though it saddened me to see young people packaged and devoid of the love of learning and pursuit of their own passion.  We all seem to get swept up in this madness--the consumer and herd mentality. I recall l that when we moved to Massachusetts, my daughter's 4th grade teacher told the class that they had to write neater FOR COLLEGE? What?!  My daughter came [...]