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The Special Ed Advocate
         ISSN: 1538-3202    Issue 379
February 20, 2007     Subscribers: 45,769

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In This Issue:

1. We Need Your Advice: Website Satisfaction Survey
2. Do Teachers Have to Provide All Accommodations in the Child's IEP?
3. Aren’t Modifications for One Child Unfair to Other Children?
4. Teacher Needs Advice about Accommodations on High Stakes Tests
5. Why Do You Instruct Parents to Be Against Special Ed Teachers?
6. Coming Soon! Wrightslaw Programs in NC, ME, IL, MI, VA
7. Subscription and Contact Info

At Wrightslaw, our mission is to help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to navigate the constantly changing world of special education and the rights of children with special educational needs. Do you know others who want to learn how to advocate for a child with a disability? Please forward this issue or the subscription page so they can learn about special education law and advocacy too.


1. Requesting Advice: Website Satisfaction Survey

Since the Wrightslaw website went up in 1998, we have asked subscribers for advice on a variety of issues. We are about to ask for your advice again.


We are asking you to participate in the first annual website survey. By participating, you will help shape the future growth of Wrightslaw. Your responses will help us select new features and content for the website. You will also help us make decisions about future programs and products.

You’ll receive the website survey soon. Please take a minute or two to complete it. Because your time is valuable, after you complete the survey, we'll send you a little gift to show our appreciation for your advice, help and support.


2.  Do Teachers Have to Provide All Accommodations in the Child's IEP?

A teacher asks, "Is the regular ed teacher required to include every accommodation on every test or activity they create? For example, if 'calculator' is marked, can the teacher create an assignment where students are not allowed to use calculators?"

Everyone seems to have questions about accommodations. When may a child have accommodations? What accommodations are appropriate? Must a teacher always provide accommodations? Are there circumstances when providing accommodations may lead to problems?

In Do Teachers Have to Provide All Accommodations in the Child’s IEP, Pete answers these questions, review changes in IDEA 2004 about accommodations -- and describes his "big gripe" about special education.

Learn more about accommodations, modifications and protection from discrimination.

Read more Frequently Asked Questions.


3. Aren't Modifications for One Child Unfair to Other Children?

"I am a regular ed teacher. I was told that I must make modifications for a child who does not have an IEP or 504 plan. It does not seem fair to make modifications for one child and not the others. What does the law say?"

Many regular education teachers have written with similar questions and concerns. What do you think?

In Aren't Modifications for One Child Unfair to Other Children, Pat Howey answers this teacher's questions and reflects on the modifications we receive (and take for granted) at work and in everyday life.

Read more articles by Pat in Ask the Advocate.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/howey/ask.htm


4. Need Advice about Accommodations on High-Stakes Tests

A special education teacher writes, "My administrators say that if a child receives accommodations on the state test, the student will receive a '0' which will lower the school's score."

"What about the 5th grader who is reading at the 1st grade level? He will not be able to demonstrate what he knows. How painful and frustrating will this be for him?" Isn't it discrimination to give him a "0" because he needs accommodations?"

Good questions. Do the laws prohibit schools from providing accommodations on high-stakes tests?

In Teacher Needs Advice about Accommodations on High Stakes Tests, Sue Heath describes the requirements for accommodations in IDEA 2004 and NCLB. As you read this short article, you will see that there are no simple answers to this question.

Sue writes about reading, No Child Left Behind, advocacy strategies, high-stakes tests and retention in Doing Your Homework. Click here to read more DYH articles.


5. Why Do You Instruct Parents to be Against Special Ed Teachers?


"In your articles, you do not seem to support special ed teachers. In fact, you instruct parents on how to be against special ed teachers and school administrators. Why would anyone want to go into this field?"

Is this teacher correct? Do we teach parents to be "against" special ed teachers?

What may be troubling this teacher? What strategies can she employ to resolve her problems? What qualities do good special education teachers share?

In "Why Do You Instruct Parents to be Against Special Ed Teachers?" Pam answers questions about support of teachers (and sets the record straight).

More resources for teachers and paraprofessionals.


6. Coming Soon! Wrightslaw Programs in NC, ME, IL, MI, VA, DE

Wrightslaw offers special education law and advocacy programs taught by experts in the field. Our Winter schedule includes programs in these communities:

February 27: Charlotte, NC
- Special Education Law & Advocacy Training by Pete and Pam Wright

March 8: Bangor ME - Special Education Law and Advocacy Training by Pete Wright

March 17: Downer's Grove, IL - From Emotions to Advocacy Training by Pat Howey

March 23: Lansing, MI - From Emotions to Advocacy Training by Pat Howey

March 24: Norfolk, VA - Special Education Law & Advocacy Training by Pete and Pam Wright

April 4: Wilmington, DE - Special Education Law and Advocacy Training with Pete and Pam Wright. (Rescheduled from 02/13/07)

Please check the schedule to see when we will be in your area. If you are interested in bringing a Wrightslaw program to your community, please read Conference Information.


7. Subscription & Contact Info

The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education legal and advocacy issues, cases, and tactics and strategies. The Special Ed Advocate is published weekly (usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, with occasional breaks). Subscribers also receive "alerts" about events and special offers on Wrightslaw publications and products.

To subscribe, please go to https://www.wrightslaw.com/subscribe.htm

To unsubscribe, please go to http://list.feat.org/scripts/wa.exe?HOME. Scroll down the list and click the link to "Wrightslaw" at the end of the page, then click "Join or Leave Wrightslaw." This will take you to the page where you can change your subscription options. Click "Leave Wrightslaw."

Please forward this issue of The Special Ed Advocate to others who share your interest in special education law and advocacy. If you were forwarded a copy of The Special Ed Advocate and want to subscribe, you can sign up through our website.

Read back issues of the Special Ed Advocate at the Archives.


Contact Info

Pete and Pam Wright
Wrightslaw & The Special Ed Advocate
P. O. Box 1008
Deltaville, VA 23043

Website: https://www.wrightslaw.com
Email: webmaster@wrightslaw.com


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