News
PACER is on ET tonight!
Posted: Sept. 2, 2010
Don’t miss Disney actress and singer Demi Lovato talking about PACER’s TeensAgainstBullying.org tonight (Sept. 2) on Entertainment Tonight, CBS’s national television show. The show airs at 6:30 p.m. central time.
View the clip
New Online Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisory
Posted: May 14, 2010
This new tool from the U.S. Department of Labor helps employers easily determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business or organization and their responsibilities under those laws.
Updated information from ECS, FEBP, and The Center on Education Policy
Posted May 3, 2010
The Education Commission of the States (ECS) has published a new policy brief, Transition and Alignment: Two Keys to Assuring Student Success, discussing the importance of creating continuity as children move from early learning programs to early elementary classes and provides examples of successful state efforts.
The New America Foundation's Federal Education Budget Project (FEBP) recently updated its online database of state and school district level federal funding, student demographic and student achievement data: www.edbudgetproject.org.
The Center on Education Policy recently released a summary of its December 2009 forum on improving low-performing schools: Improving Low-Performing Schools: Summary of a Forum. Research findings from five years of monitoring NCLB school restructuring are also highlighted.
Obama Administration’s Blueprint for Reform
Posted April 27, 2010
Read the Obama administration’s “Blueprint for Reform: Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.” It proposes changes to the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government’s K-12 education law. The proposal was released in March 2010.
Upcoming PACER Webinar - Transition: Pathway to the Future
Posted April 12, 2010
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Transition planning is an important step in preparing your child for life after high school. Planning should begin by the 9th grade. Participants at this webinar will learn about using the special education process and the IEP (Individualized Education Program) to help their child achieve their dreams and goals. This webinar is for Minnesota parents of children who receive special education services. The Webinar will be delivered online and requires a computer with a high speed Internet access.
This webinar is made possible through partial funding from the MN Department of Education
Register for the Webinar now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/420793699
Opportunity for Teens to Attend 2010 FIFA World Cup
Posted: March 8, 2010
Best Buy will be selecting 15 teens to send to South Africa June 15-20 to attend a 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer match, participate in the Coca-Cola International Soccer Camp with 200 teens from around the world, experience an African Safari and more. Teens ages 13 to 16 who are members on at15.com are eligible to win one of these 15 spots. Learn more>>>
Fox 9 Local News highlights assistive technology and the PACER Center.
Posted: January 29, 2010
Dawn Stevens, Fox 9 News reporter, interviewed Simon Technology Center Director Bridget Gilormini for a piece on assistive technology to help people with disabilities. The story grew out of Rebecca Weseman's use of a software program called Stretch Break which prompts her to take a break when using her computer. More about the technology mentioned in this story at http://www.simontechnologycenter.blogspot.com.
New AAP Web site for parents!
Posted: January 8, 2010
Whether you have a question about a specific condition or are looking for general guidance, you know you can trust us. That's because HealthyChildren.org is the only site backed by 60,000 American Academy of Pediatrics member pediatricians. We're committed to offering the most reliable, up-to-the-minute health advice for proactive parents and caregivers. www.healthychildren.org
Teens' "Votes" Can Help the Teens Against Bullying Movement be awarded up to $250,000!
Posted: September 17, 2009
Best Buy’s @15 Change Exchange program has chosen PACER as one of four organizations to receive a charitable donation. Teens’ votes determine what percentage of $250,000 PACER will receive to support its National Bullying Prevention Center and its new Web site, PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org.
New Minnesota Law concerning Restrictive Procedures for Children with Disabilities
Posted: September 10, 2009
These additions are effective August 1, 2011
Town Hall Meeting with U.S. Secretary of Education
Posted: September 10, 2009
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be speaking in a live, interactive discussion with parents September 15 from 8-9 pm EDT (7pm CDT, 6pm MDT, 5pm PDT). The town hall meeting will be televised on local government and PBS channels and also via webcast.
Demi Lovato Joins National Bullying Prevention Movement
Posted: August 06, 2009
Music sensation announces partnership to support PACER Center’s National Center for Bullying Prevention and TeensAgainstBullying.org
The abusive and sometimes deadly use of seclusion and restraint in schools is being addressed at the federal level.
Posted May 27, 2009WATCH the May 19th Hearing of Committee on Education and Labor hearing examining the abusive and deadly use of seclusion and restraint in schools
READ THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT
“Selected Cases of Death and Abuse at Public and Private Schools and Treatment Centers” Statement of Gregory D. Kutz, Managing Director
Full Report
Highlights
CONTACT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Please contact Rep. Miller's office and/or other committee members if you'd like to communicate directly on this issue (link below). If there was ever a good time to make your voice heard about this issue, it is now!
"An Outbreak of Autism, Or a Statistical Fluke?"
PACER Parent Advocate Hassan Samantar was quoted in this New York Times article concerning the Somali community in Minnesota.
"A voice for the voiceless in Somali autism debate"
PACER Parent Advocate Hassan Samantar was quoted in this Minneapolis Star Tribune article.
Forest Grove v. T.A.
Fact Sheet from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law about the Forest Grove v. T.A. U.S. Supreme Court case involving IDEA and residential treatment.
Early Childhood ARRA Resources
The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) has posted relevant resources on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
New Special Education Advocacy Book
A Guide to Special Education Advocacy by Matthew Cohen provides readers with an overview of current disability law and how it works, identifying practical ways for building positive and effective relationships with schools.
28th Annual IDEA Report
The U.S. Department of Education has recently released the 28th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
New NCLB Guidance
Posted January 18, 2009
The U.S. Department of Education recently released non-regulatory guidance to assist states and districts in implementing school choice and supplemental education services (SES) provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
School Choice Guidance
SES Guidance
Economic Stimulus Bill Includes Special Education Funding
On January 15 details of the federal economic stimulus bill were released, including $13 billion in special education funding.
Web site offers leadership training for parents
A new leadership training curriculum helps empower parents of children with disabilities to advocate for change in their communities. The Parents as Collaborative Leaders curriculum, a project of the University of Vermont and PACER, is now available as 10 PowerPoint modules on the Parents as Collaborative Leaders Web site, uvm.edu/~pcl/modules.php.
OSEP Quarterly Correspondence
The most current list of quarterly correspondence policy documents from the Office of Special Education Programs was announced in the November 13 Federal Register. Topics include child find, disproportionality, discipline, and others.
New IRIS Modules
Posted November 8, 2008
The IRIS Center has released 2 new training modules on Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) - A Reading Strategy for Grades K-1 and A Reading Strategy for High School. Both modules provide teachers research-based information and strategies for implementing PALS techniques in their classrooms.
National Transition Report
The National Council on Disability (NCD) recently released a report titled The Rehabilitation Act: Outcomes for Transition-Age Youth. This report is a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the Rehabilitation Act on the employment and postsecondary education outcomes of eligible transition-age youth.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, together with the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, set in motion policy changes that have allowed many thousands of children and youth with disabilities in the United States the opportunity to gain the educational and vocational skills needed to transition to living, working, and participating as adults in community life.
NCLB Final Regulations
On October 29, 2008, the U.S. Department of Education released final regulations to clarify provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act. The regulations cover several areas, including calculation of graduation rates, parent notification of school choice and supplemental educational services options, and state and district reporting requirements.
New Annual Performance Reports Summary Documents
The U.S. Department of Education has posted reports summarizing States' responses to special education indicators such as graduation rates, parent involvement, and least restrictive environment. Part B and Part C summary documents are available.
PACER's site offers many PDF files for download, which require