I just read the biography of Steve Jobs…. and recommend it highly. (By Walter Isaacson).

At the end, in his own words, Jobs tells us what he wants his legacy to be….In terms of giving customers what they want, that was not his approach. His approach was to figure out what they were going to want before they do! In that vein, he quoted Henry Ford, who once said, “If you’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!'”

And what does this have to do with reforming special education? We need to show a better way–that people don’t know yet and that they will want to want!

I love it!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/education/despite-focus-on-data-standards-for-diploma-may-still-lack-rigor.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion

An amazing article in the NY Times of a few days ago. How sad! After years of NCLB ‘reform’ and effort, we have come to this–lower standards on state tests. Perhaps more students pass, but with what skills really?

Where will this all end for the U.S.? Let’s hope New York’s current reformers–the state’s commissioner of education and the chancellor of the state board of education–will turn this thing around, as they hope to do.

There’s not that much time however. Since we don’t live in a bubble, what is the rest of the world doing–when it sees our goings on?

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/shop-four-letter-word-jim-berman

I love this title–Shop is not a four letter word. How did we go so wrong in ending this valuable option for so many students and for our nation? One article I found fascinating was Alison Fraser’s study of the success of vocational and technical schools for all sorts of learners in Massachusetts. http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/pdf/wp42.pdf. Check it out!

As an avid reformer, I read the Education Commission of the States (ECS) report, “12 for 2012” with great interest. It deals with pre-K education, funding, Common Core, individualizing instruction, teacher quality, among other key issues. Interesting and quite comprehensive. Important and definitely worth reading. I’m sure it will be useful for educators and policy makers.
http://www.ecs.org/html/Document.asp?chouseid=10029

But if I may, I am a former teacher and currently, an attorney who represents school districts in special education. I read this report, searching for a 1/12 on fixing special education. As you can imagine, I was disappointed not to find it! How can that be? Special education needs fixing–it educates 14 % of students nationwide. To educate students with disabilities costs somewhere between 20 and 40% of school budgets. Special education, burdened by complex regulations and ever-present threats of litigation, seems often more focused on compliance than outcomes. We can no longer be silent on this mandated program. We need to tackle it. Surely it deserves 1/12 of the focus on critical areas of need in our schools.

Your thoughts?

Dear friends and colleagues,

Still shopping? Here’s an idea!

If you need some creative,
practical, and fun little gifts for friends or relatives who are educators, school administrators,  parents (or grandparents) of students with
disabilities, or anyone interested in school reform—particularly of special
education—or even for yourself—here they are!

These little flipbooks are written by me. It’s been gratifying that
they’ve been so well-received around the country. See these comments about…

IEP and Section 504 Team Meetings… and the Law

Parent
in Silicon Valley, California:    ‘Your IEP 
book was helpful to me, so thanks…It gets opened prior to any meeting I
have at the school.”

Massachusetts special
education director:   “I
attended your seminar yesterday and got this book. I have to tell you, I am
LOVING your little orange book. I read it last night. I cannot fully express
what a find it is for me. I want to buy it for my entire staff and all the
administrators. It is informative, it cuts to the chase, and it’s entertaining!
Who would ever think a book about special education law could be funny!

Kentucky mom:    “Miriam, many thanks for the IEP
Team Meetings book. The layout, the simplicity, and the explanations were
all great! Your book helped us achieve a better IEP for our daughter.”

Grades, Report Cards, etc… and the Law

Virginia Department of
Education administrator:  “I found your book lying on a co-worker’s
desk and thought I’d glance at it. Well, I couldn’t put it down! It’s a
wonderful, straightforward guide. How do I get a copy?”

Tennessee special
education director:  “I am
ordering more books. The book is wonderful.”

Fixing Special
Education–12 Steps to Transform a Broken System

David
Driscoll, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Education:  Attorney Miriam Freedman has provided a
wealth of information to parents, school people, and other interested
parties.  Special education laws and
rules can be very complex, but Miriam has boiled special education down to what
it should look like, in an easily readable format.  Hopefully, all parties will take heed and
students will be much better served.

Jerome
J. Schultz, Ph. D., Clinical Neuropsychologist, Harvard Medical School, and author
of  Nowhere to Hide:  Pay attention, Folks.  The Emperor IS Naked! This little book is
packed with truths about special education. 
Attorney Miriam Freedman has the experience and courage to tell it like
it is and to rationally explain how it SHOULD BE! This book is not anti-special
education. It’s pro-kids—all kids.  A
must-read for all trainees who are being spoon-fed the archaic dictates of
years past, and for policymakers at all levels.

Philip
K. Howard, Chair of Common Good:  Fixing
Special Education invites discussion and action and is a must-read
for anyone interested in improving special education  and restoring balance to school decision
making. I am happy that Ms. Freedman has shared her wide experience in this
compelling little book. I hope it starts an important national conversation.

Mark
LeBlanc, President, Small Business Success: 
Miriam Freedman shares candidly what you need to know and what needs to
be done in order to protect and serve the best of what our kids need.  Read carefully and get involved. Our future
depends on it.

Happy holidays and best wishes for a healthy and
peaceful 2012.  

Miriam

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-about-better-parents.html?_r=1

Finally, I’m beginning to detect a ‘movement.’ An honest view of what we need in schools besides good teachers. Here’s Thomas Friedman’s op-ed in the matter. We need good parents. While this discussion may be late to the party, it’s good that we are finally here.

Good parents, apparently, read to their children and talk with their children about school and encourage their children in their school work. So says, Thomas Friedman in his New York Times op-ed. All that is probably true, though I was not much of a story reader to my children and they seem to have thrived anyway…

There’s so much to parenting—feeding, clothing, enjoying, discussing, and putting children to bed at a reasonable hour. I don’t forget that principal of an excellent elementary school I visited. Yes, she said, the teachers are good, the school is nice, the children study, and all that works, but, “If only I could get the moms to put their children to bed at night.”

Tired children don’t do well in learning. Yes, that, too, is the role of good parents.

Mr. Friedman et al, welcome to the party!

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2011/11/judge_posner_on_school_law_and.html