How does inclusion affect regular education students?

Which students? average, below average, above average, advanced?

How does inclusion affect special education students?

Which students with which disabilities?

I’ve seen some research–rather old. What’s new out there? If you know of any, please share!

Here’s a good read about someone who is called the world’s most famous teacher (who, I admit) I never heard of..

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/16/the-worlds-most-famous-teacher-blasts-school-reform/

The story has some gems about teaching. As I used to be a teacher, back in the 1960’s and ’70s, before I became a school attorney, it brought back memories. I especially liked his comment about the fact that too many children go to school tired–not enough sleep at home; and that poor parents–as well as more well-off ones–love their children and want to do right by them.

That tracks my memory of my teaching days back in Berkeley (CA) in the 1960’s!)

Good summer reading.

It’s been challenging to follow the machinations about this law in Congress.

Yesterday the House voted on party lines to amend the NCLB and take its implementation back to the states–instead of the federal government.

This write up in Ed Week  is a good one–it lays out the pros and cons and tells us who is for the House version and who against… as well as what the Senate may be up to.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2013/07/house_debates_no_child_left_re.html

What to make of this? First observation–groups that represent school districts favor the House version of more local control. Others don’t. Sad, isn’t it–to have such a dispute–especially as, in the end, it all comes down to those schools.

Second observation–many groups decry the House version as saying it lowers expectations and doesn’t continue the push for high standards for all students. But I have a hard time understanding this argument since 39 states and DC have received waivers from those very expectations. (Remember how all students were going to be ‘proficient’ by 2014–that is next year! ) What am I missing here?

I know. It’s been over a month since my last blog.  I’m sorry about that… and have no excuses. That’s just what happened.

The good news is that it is now possible for you to buy my three little flipbooks through PayPal on this website!

Please visit the  Store... and you’ll see this step forward.

I hope your summer is going well.