Program in New York School Pairs Special Education Students with Gifted Students

An elementary school program in Westbury, NY, brings students with different learning profiles together to learn how to build and program robots. Working in teams of two, students with learning disabilities work with students in the gifted and talented program for ten two-hour lessons. They tackle lessons in math, science and technology to build and design working robots, using interlocking plastic bricks and gears made by LEGO. For the students with learning disabilities, hands-on activities play to their strengths and having them work with gifted students is a great idea for all. Super cool! (http://specialchildren.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=specialchildren&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patriciaebauer.com%2F2009%2F03%2F02%2Fspecial-ed-gifted%2F).

Trouble signaled by early special education NCLB indicators

School board members have begun seeking real-time updates on indicators that may show areas of success and trouble on spring standardized test scores, which will determine Metro’s status under federal No Child Left Behind Laws (NCLB). On Tuesday, board members heard reports on two areas critical to NCLB success — English language learning (ELL) and special education — and received both good and bad news. Early indicators of ELL performance suggest MNPS is on track to pass all NCLB benchmarks for that group of students. Trouble is indicated, however, by early results for high school special education students in math. A crucial uncertainty hanging over the city is whether MNPS will continue to fail school performance benchmarks mandated by federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) guidelines, and advance to Restructuring II status this August. (http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=66364).

$12B for Special Education

The stimulus bill agreed to by House and Senate leaders includes $12.2 billion for special education over fiscal years 2009 and 2010! Educators our saying the stimulus money for special education will create jobs by encouraging more to become special education teachers. It will also strengthen the current program so students don't drop out of high school and they'll possibly go onto college and land good jobs. Fifty-four million Americans, roughly 1 in 6, personally experience some form of disability, therefore, this move made my President Obama is awesome!

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