Public School/ Education Resources

 

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State Agencies Related to Special Education

[For a more complete listing of State Agencies, click on link above.]

 

Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services

Administers programs for students with disabilities and for gifted students. Additionally, the bureau coordinates student services throughout the state and participates in multiple inter-agency efforts designed to strengthen the quality and variety of services available to students with special needs.  http://www.fldoe.org/ese/

 

The Transition Center at the University of Florida

The Transition Center is supported by the Career Development and Transition Project (CDT), which is one of the Department of Education's, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) discretionary projects. This project focuses on transition by providing training, products, and technical assistance for education professionals, agency personnel, family members, and students.  www.thetransitioncenter.org

 

 

 

Other Resources Related to Education

 

AD/HD:  What Can Lead Kids to a Positive Future?

Despite optimism by professionals and researchers years ago that treating AD/HD in childhood would lead to improved outcome in adulthood, current research has not supported this perception.  Why not? What should parents and professionals be doing to ensure positive future outcome? Article from SchwabLearning.org

Link to website: http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx?r=317   

 

After School Programs in the 21st Century
The latest Issues and Opportunities in Out-of-School Time Evaluation research brief draws on seminal research and evaluation studies to address two primary questions: (1) Does participation in after school programs make a difference, and if so, (2) what conditions are necessary to achieve positive results? The brief concludes with a set of questions to spur conversation about the evolving role of after school in efforts to expand time and opportunities for children and youth in the 21st century.
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool/resources/issuebrief10/index.html

 

Assistive Technology Funding Series Publication: The Public School's Special Education System as an Assistive Technology Funding Source: The Cutting Edge.  Although this booklet is published to reach a primary audience of attorneys and advocates who assist persons with disabilities who need AT to succeed in their public school experience, the publication should also be viewed as a comprehensive treatise on the rights of students with disabilities under the IDEA and section 504. [download pdf]

 

Bullying - Taking The Bully By The Horns

Bullying has become a very serious & timely topic. We're seeing more and more trouble with bullies in the news...everywhere. Some have driven other children to violence towards themselves or others.  Bullying has been around for as long as people have been around, but it's only been recently that we've become aware enough to do something about it.  www.kathynoll.com

 

Clearinghouse Information Center - FL Department of Education

Provides parents, educators, and other Floridians with access to materials about exceptional student education, student services, juvenile justice education, early intervention, parent and professional partnerships, and many other topics. You may also access Florida statutes and Board of Education rules.  http://www.fldoe.org/ese

 

Due Process Resources

Due Process resources can be difficult to locate, there just isn't a lot of information out there.  While they are not all Florida-specific, we have compiled here some of the more detailed resources we've been able to find. 

 

Disproportionality in Special Education

The disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic minorities in special education and the inequities in educational opportunities are among the most critical issues faced by the U.S. public school system in the past 30 years. A child's race and ethnicity significantly influence the child's probability of being misidentified, misclassified, and inappropriately placed in special education programs.  www.emstac.org (From home page, go to Resources, then Disproportionality.) Also see the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University:

http://www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu/research/specialed/IDEA_paper02.php

 

Dispute Resolution:  FL DOE site

This site provides information on Dispute Resolution, Mediation, State Complaints, and Due Process.

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/resolution.asp

 

Eligibility Categories for IDEA

Listing of disabilities and conditions (with definitions) that qualify a child to receive services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.      IDEA Categories [Word]     IDEA Categories [Adobe pdf]

 

Families of Kids with Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Inc.

Supports child and teen mental health by empowering West Central Florida families through increased community awareness, stigma reduction programs, as well as training and education for family members. We passionately strive to involve the whole community in education, care and support programs to reduce stigma and increase self-confidence so all youth may openly be accepted and understood for who they are.  www.familiesofkids.org

 

Families Against Restraint and Seclusion

"This blog site and the work we are doing is dedicated to the many children who have lost their lives or been physically, mentally, and/or emotionally harmed by restraint, seclusion, and other abusive practices in public schools, and to the parents, family, and friends who love these children." 

National Site:  http://familiesagainstrestraintandseclusion.blogspot.com/

Florida Site:  http://floridafamiliesagainstrestraint.blogspot.com/

 

Family Cafe 2007 Questions & Answers Book

Every year The Family Cafe puts together a resource guide called the Questions & Answers Book. The idea behind this publication is to take actual questions from real families and pass them along to the state agencies that can answer them. The entire 2007 Questions & Answers Book is available online in pdf format, at the website, www.FamilyCafe.net. You can also view the Questions & Answers Book from every year since 2004 by visiting Family Cafe's online publication library.

 

Family Involvement Network of Educators (FINE)

A community of thousands of educators, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers dedicated to strengthening family–school–community partnerships. http://www.hfrp.org/

 

The Family Village

The Family Village is a web site for children and adults with disabilities, their families, and their friends and allies. Family Village brings together thousands of online resources in a organized, easy-to-use directory.   http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/

 

Father Involvement

Over the past several years, many initiatives have been started to foster the positive involvement of fathers with their children.  The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC), a program of the Administration for Children and Families, has produced a noteworthy list of organizations and resources that speak to a diverse population of men.  This website has loads of resources, articles, and links related to fathers and education.

http://nccic.org/poptopics/fatherinvolvement.html

 

Florida Center for Inclusive Communities (FCIC)

The FCIC is a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service or UCEDD.  FCIC focuses on research and evaluation, theory, policy, capacity building, and practice in the areas of: Community Supports, Early Childhood, Transition, Education, Employment, Health, Interdisciplinary Training, Public Policy, and Cultural Competence.  http://flfcic.fmhi.usf.edu/

 

Florida Association of Partners in Education (FAPE)

Non-profit professional organization dedicated to enhancing student learning by building and maintaining effective community and school partnerships.   www.flpie.net

 

Florida Father's Network

Involving fathers in the lives of children with disabilities.  Providing a forum for fathers to learn, voice their thoughts and network with other fathers.  http://www.flafathers.com/

 

Florida Kids

Your kids can learn about Florida's cultures, settlement, and facts about our great state.  This site can provide you with knowledge to help with your Florida projects and assignments. You can learn about Florida's people from 12,000 years ago to the present, people of all cultures who have made our state their home. You can also find out Florida's state symbols like the state bird or the state song. http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/kids/

 

Florida - Kids Miami Dade

Beautiful and fun site for kids.  Learn about Miami Dade County, get homework help, learn about nature and the sea, play fun games and more. http://kids.miamidade.gov/

 

Florida's Positive Behavior Support Project

This project is designed to support teachers, administrators, related services personnel, family members, and outside agency personnel in building district-wide capacity to address challenging behavior exhibited by students in regular and special education programs.

Website:  www.flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu

 

Florida Statutes and State Board of Education Rules

  Excerpts for Special Programs:       http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/1b-stats.pdf         

 

Fostering Self-Esteem and Resiliency in Kids with AD/HD and Learning Disabilities

Loads of resources and articles from SchwabLearning.org. 

http://www.schwablearning.org/resources.aspx?g=2&s=2

 

FYI Transition

A new resource from the FL DD Council, FYI Transition is a new website designed principally for families - parents and students - to teach them about transition and employment.  While it is still a work in progress, there are links to stories about students and their jobs and information on transition planning. It also has a discussion board and the availability of on-line courses.

www.fyitransition.com

 

Healthcare Transitions Resources

The mission of the Health Care Transition Initiative at the University of Florida is to increase awareness of, gain knowledge about, and promote cooperative efforts to improve the process transitioning from child-centered (pediatric) to adult oriented health care. Our vision is to improve the transition process for all adolescents and young adults, although our current efforts focus on those with disabilities and special health care needs.

http://hctransitions.ichp.edu/

 

IDEA 2004 Parent Guide 

User-friendly guide created by the National Center on Learning Disabilities (NCLD.) 

download pdf        link to NCLD website

 

IDEA Partnership

The IDEA Partnership is a national organization dedicated to improving outcomes for students and youth with disabilities by joining state agencies and stakeholders through shared work and learning.  The IDEA Partnership is devoted to stimulating new ways for stakeholders- administrators, service providers, family members, policymakers, and other interested individuals – to work together on issues related to IDEA 2004 that are shared across states and districts; across roles and relationships.  To accomplish this goal, the IDEA Partnership provides opportunities for stakeholders to move beyond information and build shared meaning; to go beyond dissemination to joint understanding and action.www.ideapartnership.org/

 

IRIS Online Dictionary

This glossary of terms related to the field of special education has been fully updated with new definitions and now includes a cross-referencing feature that makes the resource easier to use and more informative than ever. To get started using the IRIS Online Dictionary, go to http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/onlinedictionary.html

or visit the IRIS Resource Locator http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/resources.html

and click on the dictionary icon.

 

John M. McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities
A school choice program of the Florida Department of Education for students with special needs.
Toll Free Parent Hotline: 1-800-447-1636  http://www.opportunityschools.org/

 

Kids.gov

U.S. government interagency Kids' Portal. This site was developed and is maintained by the Federal Citizen Information Center. It provides links to Federal kids' sites along with some of the best kids' sites from other organizations all grouped by subject. Your kids will explore, learn, and have fun !  www.kids.gov

 

Major Areas of Interest

New Florida DOE requirements for students entering 9th grade concerning selection of electives and major areas of interest.  From presentation by the FL Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services. 

It's A Major Opportunity! [pdf]

 

Illinois attorney well known for his work in special education law and extensive experience in health care and mental health law.  Mr. Cohen is affiliated with many organizations including; National CHADD, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), Friends of Special Education, Stepping Out (support organization for young adults with learning disabilities), Ed-Law, LD Online, Children's Behavioral Alliance. 

http://www.monahan-cohen.com   (Go to "Publications & Articles from left navigation bar)

 

"Our School Doesn't Offer Inclusion"  Article from Kids Together

http://www.kidstogether.org/noinclusion.htm

 

Pop-Up I.E.P.

Are you dreading your next Individual Education Program (IEP) meeting? Are you already in disagreement with your IEP team or your school staff over needed services for your child? If so, you are not alone. Below are some "conversation stoppers" that parents may hear when advocating for their children. Knowing what the "real" issues might be, some respectful but effective responses, and what the laws say about educating children with disabilities can assist you in getting your IEP team meetings moving again in a more positive direction! http://nclid.unco.edu/nclid/ssn/index.php

 

Positive Attitude Primary Success Predictor for LD Adults

Article from SchwabLearning.org based on 20 year longitudinal study, "Patterns of Change and Predictors of Success in Individuals with Learning Disabilities."  http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx?r=622

 

Reflections of the ESE Policeman  [pdf article]

by Wilbur Hawke

 

Response To Intervention (RTI)

Information from the New Hampshire branch of the International Dyslexia Association, prepared by the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities. The NJCLD is a national committee representing organizations concerned about individuals with learning disabilities.  http://www.nhida.org/rti.htm

 

Response To Intervention (RTI) Resources

From the National Research Center on Learning Disabilities - includes many resources for RTI specifically geared towards parents of children with learning disabilities.  http://www.nrcld.org/topics/rti.html

 

Sample Advocacy Letters

"If it's not in writing...it didn't happen."  Why re-invent the wheel?  Great resource for every imaginable letter you will need to write concerning your child and services.  http://www.familyrn.org/SampleLetters.html

 

Schwab Learning

A nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing reliable, parent-friendly information from experts and parents for parents and educators of children with learning disabilities.  Lots of resources and publications.   www.schwablearning.org  Información en Español: www.schwablearning.org/espanol

 

Section 504:  Office of Civil Rights

Section 504 is the federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). 

Students achieve more once they've learned to care for themselves and others, says Marilyn Watson. She's done the research to prove this - and witnessed the positive results.

download pdf        http://peacecenter.berkeley.edu/research_sel.html

 

Speechville Express

If your child has difficulty with speech, language, communication, or is a late talker, we hope you will find the website helpful. Our aim is to provide you with knowledge about available resources to help your child, or a child you care about who has a communication impairment or disorder.
www.speechville.com

 

Starfall.com

Free and fun website to help your child learn to read.  The Starfall Method of reading instruction was developed for the emergent reader. It is based in part on research by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development about how children learn to read. The Starfall program was conceived by Dr. Stephen Schutz, who as a child had difficulty learning to read.     www.starfall.com   Article about Starfall from News.com:  http://news.com.com/The+ABCs+of+learning+online/2009-1025_3-6195272.html

 

 

Twice Exceptional Guide...Manual published by the National Education Association

While there are individual children with distinctive or exceptional learning needs in every classroom, some youngsters show a pattern of extreme strengths combined with areas of significant difficulty.  These youngsters are commonly referred to as twice-exceptional; students who have outstanding gifts or talents and are capable of high performance, but who also have a disability that affects some aspect of learning. 

[download pdf]    Website:  www.nea.org

 

Washington Learning Systems

We are a small company working to create big changes in the lives of young children. Our evidence based programs promote early literacy, language, cognitive, and social development. Free Parent Handouts in English & Spanish.  http://www.walearning.com/index.html

 

 

We are continuing to add information to this portion of the website.  If you would like to suggest an article, resource, helpful website or publication, please e-mail candace@cflparents.org. 

 

 

 

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