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It’s that time of year.The annual, magical beginning of the school year…Even after all the years since I left teaching for law, I still feel that twinge in early September, or late August. There is something magical and special about starting afresh every year. Our nation experiences that new beginning every year. I hope you enjoy it this year, as you start back to school in September or August.In close to 30 years of practicing law, I can tell you--there’s nothing like it in this biz. [...]

Today's Dallas Morning News reports about Texas' new law--Senate Bill 2033. Schools need to adopt grading policy before the start of the school year. Teachers need to grade students on the basis of their mastery, not an arbitrary minimum grade below which teachers cannot go.Under the new law, teachers are no longer required to give students grades they did not earn--such as never going below a 50, 60, or 70.The purpose of the new law is to give honest grades and to stem grade inflation. The [...]

Look what just popped up in my inbox! Yes, SpedEx is up and running... an innovative dispute resolution model for special education that puts the child first.http://www.doe.mass.edu/pdf/-BSEA-spedx.html%28112%29.pdfCheck it out! It's exciting and will some sanity back to disputes about special education placements... We are piloting it in Massachusetts. If other states are interested, contact the BSEA at www.doe.mass.edu/BSEA, www.SpecialEducationDay.com, or Miriam@schoollawpro.com.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/08/02/the_truth_about_grit/Check this article-- featured in Boston Sunday Globe "IDEAS" section. Excellent!It will, hopefully, help us change the focus in education from labeling kids (you're smart; you're not....) to doing the hard work-- teaching them to grow their grit. Grit--perseverence, hard work, resilience, stamina, single minded purpose, stick-to-it-ive-ness, focus, passion, Success depends on hard work, over and over [...]

Please visit the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at www.doe.mass.edu/bseaScroll down to the June 15, 2009 SpedEx launch.SpedEx is the innovative way for schools and parents to resolve disputes about special education placements--keeping the child's need for a FAPE (free appropriate public education) front and central.SpedEx is the new game in town. Check it out! For more information, please contact us at www.specialeducationday.com or at [...]

How about this.If the President, Professor Gates, and Sergeant Crowley can sit down and have a beer at the White House, how about parents of students with disabilities and school personnel--sitting down just to talk with and listen to each other. When the President mentioned that idea at his impromptu news briefing yesterday, didn't the nation breath a bit easier?Surely worth trying. Talking and listening to move forward together might work better than the endless battles we now have about [...]

As I think about how we do special education in the U.S., sometimes reality stares us in the face; yet, we overlook it.The better regular education is, the less special education we need. That is the way it is. Rock bottom solid reality.A bit of history. Back in the 1970's, the law seemed to create two systems--regular and special. Special education was going to 'fix,' 'cure,' 'educate' students identified for IDEA services. Often it succeeded and students benefited. But, over the years, [...]

As a co-founder of Special Education Day (http://www.specialeducationday.com/), I am so happy to let you know that one of our holiday's reform efforts, SpedEx, is now launched. Supported and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), SpedEx is ready to help parents and schools resolve disputes about special education and a FAPE (free appropriate public education) to students.For information, please visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/bsea/spedxWe wish [...]

Am I the only person who was taken aback by the Court's decision to grant the parents reimbursement for their private placement (even though the child had not received special education in the public school) for several reasons, including the fact that the legal process takes too long! Oh my. Where is the justice for all?The timing:Parents sought a due process hearing in 2003.The District Court issued its ruling in 2005.And here we are in 2009, with the Supremes--almost a year after the [...]

A new, creative, child-centered dispute resolution model is now launched by the Bureau of Special Education Appeals in Massachusetts! Funded and supported by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, it is full of promise and creativity. It will provide a child with a FAPE--a free appropriate public education, with follow up to assure its implementation. We expect stories of success!Check it out! http://www.doe.mass.edu/bsea/spedx.htmlThis model grew out of [...]