I really appreciate the fact that the CEC keeps me abreast of policy changes through their online newsletter, CEC Smartbrief. It really helps me feel the membership is worth the investment.
The one posted July 8th had an interesting article from Education Week focused on challenges to the federal system for evaluating states' performance on complying with IDEA. Many states have found the evaluation procedure daunting and difficult. Of course, how state feel may simply reflect the rating they have succeed (or failed) in earning. Do they provide FAPE? Is the state equipped to provide LRE?
Attached is a map of states with their current rating. The questions surround the focus of the evaluation: are outcomes the goal of the state's special education program? Are their too many details required for reporting? Does the report give valuable information?
I know from the emails I get from you, my readers, that enforcement of IDEA and institution of it's core tenets is often, from district to district, spotty at best . My hope is that we will get it right, not from the point of being law abiding, but simply in order to see that our kids do get the best, most appropriate instruction while spending as much time as possible with their typically developing peers. I want my kids to finish school as fully participating members of society, not as pariahs or outcasts.
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