The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) is pleased to announce the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Checklist iPhone application. The IEP is an individualized program designed to support the educational needs of school aged students with disabilities. This new IEP app helps parents of students with special needs become better-informed advocates by making IEP information easier to access.

The IEP app is offered free of charge. A special IEP app launch reception is being held on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.

To download the IEP Checklist app, visit the Apple iTunes store, and type IEP Checklist in the search box.

Virginia Acts to Limit Use of Special-Ed Exam after Criticism. Virginia officials are moving to restrict the use of portfolio assessments, designed to replace standardized multiple-choice exams for students with special needs, in response to criticism that schools are overusing the alternative tests and inflating student scores. (Washington Post, 02/26/10)

House Panel Rejects Autism-Insurance Coverage. Members of a Virginia state House subcommittee voted to table a bill that would have required insurance companies to provide coverage for children's autism treatment. The measure, which had passed in the state Senate, drew opposition from members of the business community who said the proposal was too costly. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 02/24/10)

Assistant Makes School Enjoyable for a Boy with Special Needs. One-on-one aide improves school life for student with disabilities. Sean Blackford, a fourth-grade Virginia student with spina bifida, is enjoying school with the help of a special-education assistant the district hired to help him throughout the day. (The Virginian-Pilot, 02/24/10)

Special-education pass rates higher on VGLA. State leaders are worried that elementary and middle schools across Virginia are increasingly turning to an alternative - some say easier to pass - measure of student competency to help earn accreditation. (The Virginian-Pilot, 02/21/10)

Autism Bill Passes in State Senate. A bill mandating insurers to cover treatment of autistic children ages 2 to 6 has passed in the Virginia Senate and is moving on to the House of Delegates.(News Channel 3 wtkr.com, 02/17/10)

Gatewood Teacher Goes Above and Beyond for her Students. A Newport News, Va., teacher has successfully written grants to provide her students who have special needs with a listening station, whisper phones that help students with language impairments improve their speech and other equipment to help her students learn. (Daily Press, 02/14/10)

What Will Happen to the SOLs in Virginia? What will happen to the Standards of Learning (SOLs) in Virginia when the CCSSI issues the Common Core standards? Is this an "alarmist" article or a call to action for VA to demand HIGHER standards than the Common Core minimums? (EdNews.org, 12/31/09; PWC (Prince William County) Education Reform Blog, 12/30/09)