http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/01/13/16mandates.h30.html?tkn=QMRFZ61%2BhJSpGf4vOZICh9kMjwKqnq0RacRk&cmp=clp-edweek

I read this article with great anticipation. Alas, it provided no answers.   It just called for more studies and some handwringing.

In my view, in order to ‘find efficiences’ in special ed, we need to first make special ed work for students. StudentsFirst, to quote Michelle Rhee’s new group.  It should not be designed to work for adults, bureaucrats, lawyers, and others, adding ever more requirements and procedures.  We don’t even know how much is spent in classrooms and how much in hearing and courtrooms, and departments of education. Let’s start there.

An informal study by a special ed director in Massachusetts several years ago found that special education teachers get to spend just 19% of their time actually teaching. The rest of the time is taken up with activities which do NOT improve results.

It makes no sense to ‘save’ money if we don’t first fix this broken system. There are far better ways to focus on educating students with disabilities and we need to work to implement them. Sure, it’s a long road ahead, but we must start.

Alas, my aching back did not permit me to attend the conference and present the 12 step agenda for fixing special education.  I believe it would have been a thought-and-discussion-and action provoking session. It’s really too bad. 

Hopefully, with the meds I’m taking and the physical therapy (I’m sure many of you know the drill), I should improve quickly. Here’s to next year!  I always love the ACSA meeting in Monterey. 

So, here is a link to the presentation.  Let me know your thoughts!  It’s time to fix the special education system!  http://schoollawpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/ACSA-Presentation-Monterey-CA-January-13-2011.doc

 

David Brooks writes that our national debate should not be about the size of government–it should be about the effectiveness of government. Will it achieve our goals? Will it spur achievement and investment by Americans.

 Hmmmmm, sounds to me a lot like education, and especially, special education.   In special education, we argue endlessly about how much time, how many services, how often, etc. The inputs.  The size of programs. The costs. etc.

We don’t focus nearly enough attenion on the outputs. Does the program work? Is it achieving the goals?  In short, does it help the child learn more?

As Mr. Brooks  writes in the broader context, the debate should be about the quality and effectiveness of serivdes, not the quantity of them. Hear hear! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/opinion/04brooks.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage

Happy New Year! 

In 2011, every month, we’ll post a STEP on the way to FIX special education–one month at a time.  There are 12 steps. By December, our transformation of the system should be well underway!

Please  share your comments and let us know what steps you are taking to fix special education. 

Happy new year! Happy transformation!

Step ONE:  January 2011—Step one to bring about climate change in our schools

 End litigation of a student’s special education services (FAPE).  Although lawsuits may have been appropriate in an earlier era, they no longer are. The system has become dysfunctional. Lawyers, judges, and outside ‘experts’ should not be selecting reading programs or deciding how to teach a child with autism. We need to let educators do that!

To end this rampant litigation, we need to define a free appropriate public education (FAPE) once and for all. Just tell us what the law requires! After 35 years of arguing about a FAPE, it’s time for Congress to define terms so teachers can teach (and not worry constantly about paperwork and threats of litigation) and students can learn.  Pedagogy (‘good teaching’ practices) should drive education—not legalism.

Getting practical, one approach is SpedEx–an innovative way for parents and schools to resolve a disputed IEP with the help of a mutually-chosen outside consultant–fully funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education!   SpedEx is quick! It’s child-centered! It builds relationships and trust among school personnel and parents!  It works!

SpedEx evolved from discussions at Special Education Day. http://www.specialeducationday.com   SpedEx is now successfully launched!  For more information, please visit   http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/spedx

Creative open-minded problem solvers—we need you now!

____________________________________

These steps are taken from Fixing Special Education—12 Steps to Transform a Broken System.  The book is available at School Law Pro: http://schoollawpro.com/fixing-order.doc and at 

Park Place Publications at http://www.parkplacepubs.com/online-store/view/fixing-special-education-12-steps-to-transform-a-broken-system

 Stay tuned for February’s STEP!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/world/asia/30shanghai.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=homepage&src=me

Will we learn to value hard work by students? To teach students to hold adults– teachers and parents– in esteem? To takep–and stay with– a disciplined approach to teaching and learning?  To prize academic achievment?  To wake up and act on what our Secretary of Education called these Shanghi results on the international PISA test–‘;a wake-up call.’ 

Let us hope.

Happy New Year!

See you in 2011 as we work to move education forward–trust and achievement.

A sad state of affairs is reported in Joanne Jacobs’ blog–with many many comments this holiday season. http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/12/from-ap-classes-to-remedial-ed/comment-page-1/#comment-148957 

Here’s my two cents:

Apparently, it’s not called ‘remedial’ in colleges any more–it’s called “developmental education.” This looks like another attempt to hide the truth–and lower expectations. Words mean something! They should be used precisely. If we are teaching K-12 skills and knowledge at the colleges, then we need to call that remediation–it is not developmental, unless we’re prepared to admit that education levels have been officially lowered and altered.

In getting ready for 2011, here’s a thought.    It’s time to teach creativity.   Perhaps the article below will inspire.  http://www.educationnews.org/michael-f-shaughnessy/104095.html

See, as  well, Newsweek‘s cover story this summer about creativity–reporting on a creativity gap for the U.S. http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/10/the-creativity-crisis.html  We cannot continue to lead without fostering and growing creativity. For starters, “forget brainstorming!”  Interesting.

To create anew we need to think and act anew.  Happy New Year!

The more we live, the more things change. Or do they?  Or do they get back to where we started–personal responsibility.

Fascinating, how views of reality shift.  Now, we are starting to see–if students do not do well in school, perhaps it is their doing, or their parents’–not the teachers’.  I believe this reality heads us in the right direction finally. Education is what students do for themselves. Others can assist, of course, bue education is an active verb!   Students and parents and teachers working together. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/7335651.html

Race to Nowhere–a new movie by a mother, concerned about the overtesting and continuous resume building that our students–mostly upscale–live with. The movie is EVERYwhere–and the national conversation has started!

Congratulations to Vickie Abeles, a middle-aged mother who grew concerned when her own child was….. Now, her movie is a huge buzz and she’s been on Oprah! Thus, it was that my niece told me about it…

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/education/09nowhere.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage

Like it or hate it–It’s amazing what one person can do. The power of ONE!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/09/public-blames-grad-rates-_n_794255.html

It’s about time. Education is something YOU do–it doesn’t happen to you. We need to stop blaming the teachers and start looking at the students. They need to be active participants. See China’s rise–and why? When I visited recently, t he guide told me, “The students work really really hard there.”

Honestly, there’s no other way.