A Special Education Teacher, Administrator and Lawyer walk into a bar....all you ever wanted to know about special education

After multiple requests, Robin and Abby begin the transition convo. It's too expansive to cover in 1 episode so this is just the beginning!

Do you want to be a transition specialist?

Autism goes to college

Intelligent Lives

MA DESE Secondary Transition

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Question 2:  Elimination of MCAS as High School  Graduation Requirement passed in Massachusetts- so what does that mean for students? Listen to Robin, Abby and Angela as they review the DRAFT Q&A provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 

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Ever wonder how to support students who are home or hospital bound? Join Abby, Robin and Angela as they discuss how to provide educational services to students who are confined to the home or a hospital setting.

MA DESE Q&A (603 CMR 28.03(3)(c)

Physician's Affirmation of Need for Temporary Home or Hospital Education for Medically Necessary Reasons

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Listen in while Angela, Robin and Abby discuss a complicated and emotionally challenging part of the special education legal landscape - when a Handbook/Code of Conduct infraction IS or IS NOT a manifestation of a student's disability.
 Legal reference: 34 CFR §§300.530-300-536

For the flowchart mentioned in the podcast click here.

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Join Robin, Abby and Angela as they review the importance of the role of the general education teacher in IEP meetings. 

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In this episode Abby, Angela and Robin interview Kathleen Browning, a former SLP and current Early Childhood Program Director to learn more about the amazing world of Integrated Preschool.

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Listen in as Angela, Robin and Abby discuss what they are thinking and how they respond when someone in a meeting makes an unexpected statement or decision. Check out the resource for developing comprehensive evaluations from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction here.

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Listen in as the girls debate key concepts of Extended School Year from how the determination of eligibility gets made, to the goals and mission of ESY services, all the way to the nuts and bolts of what kinds of programs for how many days and hours. We're referencing the MADESE ESY Q and A in its most recent form and don't all agree on everything it says or what it all means. BUCKLE UP for a spirited deep dive into ESY!

MADESE Q & A

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Join Robin and Abby as they geek out on our field's research base (and sometimes, lack thereof).  Listen in to a discussion of High Leverage Practices (HLP's); the 22 skills that we (sort of) have all agreed a special education teacher must consolidate to be effective in the role.

For more information  and to read the Official HLPs  click here:
https://highleveragepractices.org/

Check out the IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University's super cool think tank for more info and helpful visuals on HLP's here.

Here is the link to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)'s 2024 publication:
High Leverage Practices for the Inclusive Classroom, 2nd. Ed.

Here is the CEEDAR Center's webpage (including a tool to check your school's alignment with HPL's). So freakin' neat!!

And finally, here is a PDF of the whole  2017 book that is easier to read than the new one - happy HLPing!!!!!!

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This November Massachusetts voters will determine the fate of keeping the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement. We had a longer debate last year when it was on the ballot as a citizen petition (Oct. 13, 2023 episode). This week we revisit the topic.

We also plug Unified Sports    as people begin thinking about budget season (as well as starting fall athletics) because this initiative is a high impact, low budget culture booster! 

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