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Dear
$subst('Recip.FirstName'), Highlights:
What you
should know about evaluations; tests and measurements for parents,
educators, advocates and attorneys; 50% discount on Wrightslaw books;
how high are high-stakes tests - a student's perspective; high-stakes
lawsuit filed in Mass, other lawsuits suits in CA, OR, IN; The Special Ed Advocate newsletter is free - please forward this issue or the subscription link to your friends and colleagues so they can learn about special education law and advocacy too. We appreciate your help! https://www.wrightslaw.com/subscribe.htm 1.
What You Should Know About Evaluations by
Bob Crabtree, Esq.
"As
a parent, you must make sure that all areas of possible need are assessed
as quickly as possible. While some parents would rather not allow
their school system to evaluate their child, a refusal to cooperate
at this stage of the process can backfire if you need to ask for more
or for different services later. It may also affect your ability to
have the school system pay for an independent evaluation." 2. Tests & Measurements for the Parent, Teacher, Advocate and Attorney by Pete & Pam Wright Your
child has received special education for three years. Has your child
caught up with the peer group? Has your child fallen further behind?
How can you tell? To successfully negotiate for services that provide educational benefit, parents need to know how to interpret test scores. Tests & Measurements is reading for ALL our clients. To ensure that you have the graphics in this article, print the article from the screen (rather than download it). https://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/tests_measurements.html 3. Planning a Conference or Training Program? Get 50% Discount on Wrightslaw Books Are you planning a conference? Are you training parents or teachers? Harbor House Law Press offers a special 50% discount to advocacy organizations and individuals who provide advocacy training and/or training. This discount is available for boxes of 20 books, 40 books, 60 books, etc. (minimum order is 20 books). Savings are greater on larger purchases: * Buy 3 boxes (60 books), get free shipping * Buy 4 boxes (80 books), get free shipping and another box (20 books) free. Learn about the Advocacy Challenge Discount: https://www.wrightslaw.com/bks/advo_discount.htm 4. Using an Expert as an Effective Resource by Jennifer Bollero, Esq. Attorney-author Jennifer Bollero explains why parents should rely on advice from trained professionals to make informed decisions about educational interventions. You will learn why medical experts should advise parents to seek the best medical and therapeutic treatments - and why a request for the "best" education from the school is fatal. Read Using an Expert as an Effective Resource: http://www.harborhouselaw.com/articles/bollero.expert.htm 5. How High Are the Stakes in High-Stakes Testing? A Student's Perspective High expectations? Fairness? Accountability? Most people have strong opinions about these issues. Confident that you have the answers? On
September 19, a lawsuit was filed against the state department of
education and Holyoke school district on behalf of six students from
the Holyoke and Springfield area. The suit alleges that the Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment System exam discriminates against students
with disabilities, minority students, and students with limited-English
skills. 6. More High-Stakes Lawsuits: Indiana, California, Oregon In 1999,
Pete wrote, "IDEA requirements about assessing disabled children
on state testing may lead parents to realize that their child is not
benefiting from special education. Litigation may begin sooner when
this part of the statute takes effect." (Wrightslaw:
Special Education Law, page 48-49) Disabilities
Rights Advocates files lawsuit against California Dept of Education;
claims that exit exam discriminates because it does not provide for
an alternate assessment, provides no procedure for requesting accommodations,
nor a process for appeals. Read Lawsuit
Against High Stakes Test Filed in California: Battles
about high-stakes tests are flaring up around the country: issues
include high expectations v. accountability, due process rights, obligations
to teach basic skills. Read Indiana
Judge Asked for Injunction So Seniors Can Graduate: 7. Free Pubs: High Stakes Testing Disability Rights Advocates, Do No Harm - High Stakes Testing and Students with Learning Disabilities (2001). Describes
accommodations, alternate assessments, appeals, procedures, and other
safeguards that should be implemented for statewide assessment systems
to comply with the law and guarantee educationally sound opportunities
to students with learning disabilities. Dowload
from http://www.dralegal.org/
Center
on Education Policy, State
High School Exit Exams: A Baseline Report (2002). 8. More Free Pubs One obstacle in advocating for a child with a disability is finding the time to do research. We spend hours collecting information so you can spend your time learning, not searching. Visit our Free Pubs page, download publications about IEPs, special education, transition planning, reading, children's mental health, harassment, high-stakes testing, retention and social promotion, zero tolerance and discipline. The contents of this page will change as we add new publications. 9. Alert: New Decision in Nevada School Brutality Cases On September 23, we sent an Alert about the new decision from the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the long-running school brutality cases against Clark County Public Schools. The court reversed the District Court and ruled that school personnel do not have immunity. The Alert and decisions are now available on the site. Download Witte v. Clark County Schools & Eason v. Clark County Schools: New Decision in School Brutality Cases from: https://www.wrightslaw.com/news/2002/9th.witte.clarkco.htm 10. Subscription & Contact Info The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education legal and advocacy issues, cases, tactics and strategy, and Internet resources. Subscribers receive announcements and "alerts" about new cases, events, and special offers on Wrightslaw books. To
subscribe: https://www.wrightslaw.com/subscribe.htm Wrightslaw
& The Special Ed Advocate To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your email
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