February 2011 – Special Educator e-Journal

Table of Contents

• Update from the U.S. Department Education

• Calls to Participate

• Special Education Resources & Update From The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

• Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET

• Upcoming Conferences and Events

• Funding Forecast and Award Opportunities

• Acknowledgements

• Download a PDF Version of This Issue

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Update from the U.S. Department of Education

U.S.Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Release of the NAEP Science Report Card

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued the following statement on The Nation’s Report Card: Science 2009, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) at Grades 4, 8, and 12:

“The results released today show that our nation’s students aren’t learning at a rate that will maintain America’s role as an international leader in the sciences. When only 1 or 2 percent of children score at the advanced levels on NAEP, the next generation will not be ready to be world-class inventors, doctors, and engineers.

“The 2009 NAEP science assessment created a new framework, so it’s not possible to compare scores to earlier tests. But the results show that schools need to urgently accelerate student learning in the sciences.

“President Obama is committed to improving achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He has made a call for all hands on deck to parents, teachers, administrators, academics, local leaders, and the private sector to work together to advance science and mathematics education, and has set a goal to recruit 10,000 new science and mathematics teachers over the next two years. Our nation’s long-term economic prosperity depends on providing a world-class education to all students, especially in mathematics and science.”

Education Secretary Arne Duncan Will Make Educational Opportunities for Military Families a Priority as Part of Presidential Initiative

As part of the Obama administration initiative to support military families, the U.S. Department of Education will focus on providing educational opportunities for children of military families, especially when a parent is deployed and during times of transition between schools. The Department will also simplify the financial aid application process for members of the military.

“The men and women who serve in our Nation’s armed forces place a high value on education and the availability of quality educational opportunities for their children,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “The U.S. Department of Education is committed to providing children of military families the support and education they need to thrive, as well as expanding educational opportunities for military spouses and veterans.”

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden announced today nearly 50 commitments by federal agencies responding to the President’s directive to establish a coordinated and comprehensive federal approach to supporting military families. Strengthening Our Military Families: Meeting America’s Commitment, released today, is the result of an effort led by the National Security Staff and Domestic Policy Council, responding to the Presidential Study Directive-9 calling on all Cabinet Secretaries and other agency heads to find better ways to provide our military families with the support they deserve. The report identifies four strategic priorities that address the primary challenges facing our military families.

1. Enhance the well-being and psychological health of the military family.
2. Ensure excellence in military children’s education and their development.
3. Develop career and educational opportunities for military spouses.
4. Increase child care availability and quality for the armed forces.

U.S. Department of Education will make supporting military families one of its supplemental priorities for the its discretionary grant programs. This priority, when applied, will for the first time ever, favor grant applications to meet the needs of military students. The Department has also made accessing and processing of financial aid more tailored to military families and more sensitive to the financial fluctuations of Guard and Reserve personnel. Also, the Department is seeking new ways to collect and report data pertaining to military connected children.

These four priorities were identified with special attention to the feedback that the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, and Administration officials have received from the many service members and their families they have encountered over the past two years. They address the concerns and challenges of the families of Active Duty and Reserve Component Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard members; Veterans; and those who have fallen. Each Cabinet Secretary pledged to continue to communicate these priorities, share expertise, and establish sustainable solutions through leveraging partnerships.

This report also serves as a springboard to highlight the military families’ contributions as a national and community resource and identifies opportunities to leverage more of the skills, experience, and capacity of military family members. Additionally, this overall effort endeavors to strengthen existing feedback mechanisms for military families to voice their concerns and opinions, their unique challenges, the effectiveness of existing programs, and their input on the future direction of related federal programs and policies.

New Education Dashboard Brings Greater Transparency to Data

At an education stakeholders’ meeting today, Secretary Duncan announced the launch of an online tool designed to help educators, parents, students, and policy makers “have a much more transparent conversation” about what is working—and what is not working—in American education today.

Called the Education Dashboard, the site offers all 50 states’ pre-kindergarten-12th grade data around 16 key indicators that are tied to the nation’s educational goals, as well as some measures of states’ postsecondary systems. Specifically, the indicators focus on measuring progress toward realizing the President’s vision that by 2020, the United States will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

Deputy Secretary Tony Miller explained at today’s launch that the key indicators in the Dashboard were selected because they are relevant, reliable, and measurable across all 50 states. While some of the data have been seen before, much of the information is new, including information about which state systems allow student achievement data to be incorporated into evaluations for teachers and disparities in funding between high- and low-poverty schools.

According to Miller, the data indicate that “we are a far cry from where we need to be” and show a “wide variation in what we see in both performance and trends” between states. Secretary Duncan described the Education Dashboard as a starting point, a tool to “increase the visibility and increase the debate” about best practices and how to results for students.

The Dashboard can be found at http://dashboard.ed.gov/. The Department welcomes feedback on the new site, which users can submit via links throughout the Dashboard.

 

 

 

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Calls to Participate

University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development Seeks Input on the Assistive Technology Needs of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6QXRRS7
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Institute for Human Development is looking for people who wish to use and/or are currently using assistive technology to take a brief survey on their assistive technology needs.

Part B and Part C SPP/APR 2010 Dispute Resolution Indicator Analyses
http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/SPPAPR2010DRindicatoranalyses.cfm
CADRE (National Center on Dispute Resolution in Special Education) has composed the Dispute Resolution Chapters from OSEP/TA&D projects’ Annual Performance Reports Analyses, summarizing the dispute resolution portions of the State Part B and Part C Annual Performance Reports submitted February 1, 2010. Each summary covers current and past Indicator performance, five year trends in the use of dispute resolution options, and suggestions for improving state dispute resolution systems. CADRE would appreciate feedback on the chapters. They are posted on the CADRE web site, along with a link to a short SurveyMonkey evaluation.

The Administration on Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/survey/survey_landed.html
The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) seeks input from individuals with developmental disabilities and their families across the country in considering future plans and how ADD can best meet the diverse needs of these groups. ADD seeks to use its resources to focus on the most pressing and relevant concerns of the developmental disabilities community, and is looking for their thoughts regarding the focus of future Projects of National Significance (PNS). The purpose of PNS is to: create opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to contribute to, and participate in, all facets of community life; and support the development of national and state policies to reinforce and promote the self-determination, independence, productivity, inclusion, and integration of individuals with developmental disabilities into all facets of community life.

The Arc FINDS Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TheArcFinds2010
The Arc FINDS (Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports) survey is now online and available to families, individuals, and self-advocates. They invite individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, families, and caregivers across the nation to share their opinions on a variety of issues relating to disability. There is no cost to taking the survey. (Additional information on Arc is on their general website, http://www.thearc.org.)

New Videos Encourages Special Ed Students to Participate in State Outcome Survey
http://www.psocenter.org/data_collection.html
To help educators improve services for students with disabilities who are still in school, every state is conducting a survey to find out what students who received special education services are doing one year after leaving high school. To help increase response rates, the National Post-School Outcomes Center has announced the launch of “Be a Superstar – Take the Survey.” These YouTube videos were designed to encourage students and families to complete post-school outcomes surveys. Prepared in collaboration with PACER Center, versions are available for youth and parents in both English and Spanish. (The survey can also be accessed from http://www.youtube.com/pacercenter.)

PACER Survey Parent Survey
http://www.fastfamilysupport.org
Parents or primary caregivers of young people with disabilities 12-22 years old are invited to take part in a national research study by completing the National Family Support Survey, conducted by the FAST Project. Answers to the questions on the National Family Support Survey are confidential and will help the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, parent centers, and researchers understand the information and supports families need to prepare for moving into adulthood. This information may help to inform program development for youth with disabilities in the future. The survey is available in Spanish also.

America’s Promise Alliance/AT&T: My Idea Grant Program
http://tinyurl.com/2vwcjlj
America’s Promise Alliance and AT&T are looking for energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to help make this country a Grad Nation through the My Idea Grants program. My Idea will empower young people to examine the high school dropout crisis and help their peers graduate on time, as well as improve outcomes for themselves and their community. National grants of $10,000-$20,000 will be awarded to 20-25 youth for the best ideas submitted to help increase a community’s graduation rate anywhere in the United States. Additional opportunities are available for young people living in Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Louisville, Nashville, New York, New Orleans, Oakland, and Washington, D.C.

Peer Reviewers Needed at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
http://opeweb.ed.gov/frs
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), is seeking peer reviewers (field readers) for its discretionary grant program application reviews. The application review process involves a reader orientation, reading and evaluation of applications, and discussions with other panelists. Apply on-line to become a reader for the OPE grant program.

The Gateway Project
http://www.thegatewayproject.org
The Gateway Project, a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE), which is itself a collaboration between Oregon Health & Science University, Portland State University, and the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, aims to serve as a gateway to research committed to the values of inclusion, respect, accessibility and relevance. The Gateway Project is recruiting participants on the autistic spectrum, and participants with and without disabilities for a series of continuing Internet-based research studies on topics such as health care, well-being, and problem solving.

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Special Education Resources & Update From The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

Special Education Research: Where to Start?
For all the stakeholders out there who are teaching in classrooms, administrating in schools, getting trained to work in schools, or who just want to know where to start looking for research in special education that will help guide their work or study or advocacy on behalf of children, this update’s for you.
http://www.nichcy.org/Research/Basics/Pages/Start.aspx 

What Works? Can We Say?
After these many years of special education research, what do we know about effective practices in….you name it, there are so many aspects involved in addressing the needs of the little ones with disabilities and in educating the bigger ones who grow older every day.
http://www.nichcy.org/Research/Basics/Pages/WhatWorks.aspx

Celebrating 35 years of IDEA.
Can you believe that it’s been 35 years since our nation’s special education law was first passed? The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services is ready to celebrate! Find out what’s up, at:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/idea35/index.html

Disability etiquette.
Here’s a 56-page, easy-to-read, text-light resource from the United Spinal Association. It discusses many different disabilities and offers very good suggestions on disability etiquette.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6608875/Disability-Etiquette

Choosing your battles: Targeting behavior problems worth fighting for.
Children with special needs sometimes present parents with so many opportunities for behavioral correction that, if they pursued every one, children would never leave the time-out chair. How do parents let them know the rules are important, and still use discretion when it comes to discipline?
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/behaviorissues/a/battles.htm

Sexuality and developmental disability: A guide for parents.
This 15-pager comes from the Calgary Health Region.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20155763/Sexuality-Developmental-Disability

Parent-teacher conference tipsheets | Available in Spanish, too!
Face-to-face interactions between parents and teachers are still the cornerstone of school family engagement efforts. These newly revised tip sheets from the Harvard Family Research Project provide key strategies for both parents and teachers to walk into conferences informed and prepared, in order to ensure the most successful outcomes. A tipsheet aimed at school principals also outlines how school administrators can support parents and teachers to that end.
http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/parent-teacher-conference-tip-sheets-hojas-de-consejos-para-las-reuniones-de-padres-y-maestros

Two new (as-always-terrific) resources from Wrightslaw.

Physical Education and Adapted PE
If your child cannot be included in regular physical education, an effort must be made to involve him using supplementary aids and services or through adapted physical education.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/pe.index.htm

Paper Trails: How Good Is Your Documentation?
The success of your child’s education may depend on how well you document what happens during the IEP process.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/10/nl.1123.htm

Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren?
You may find the AARP Foundation GrandCare Support Locator helpful. A service of the American Association of Retired Persons, the locator connects grandparents with national, state and local groups, programs, resources, and services that support grandparents and other relatives caring for children.
http://www.giclocalsupport.org/pages/gic_db_home.cfm

Review of the research literature on serving adults with learning disabilities.
http://lincs.ed.gov/premium-publications/pdf/L2ALiteratureReview09.pdf

Making life easier.
That’s the name of the new series launched by TACSEI, the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children. Find helpful tips on how to make often challenging events easier to navigate and even enjoyable. Topics include Bedtime and Naptime, Running Errands, and Diapering.
http://www.challengingbehavior.org//do/resources/making_life_easier.html

Learning to talk and listen.
An oral language resource for early childhood caregivers.
http://lincs.ed.gov/premium-publications/pdf/LearningtoTalkandListen.pdf

Make time to talk.
Here are some language building tips for center-based and home-based child care providers.
http://lincs.ed.gov/premium-publications/pdf/language_tipsheet.pdf

CONNECT Module 4: Family-Professional Partnerships.
Learn about building trusting family-professional partnerships when working with families of young children.
http://community.fpg.unc.edu/connect-modules/learners/module-4

Webinar series on the social emotional development of young children.
This series was developed in response to the emerging body of research related to the importance of social emotional development as a stepping stone to positive outcomes for young children. The series was developed collaboratively by the IDEA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA), the IDEA 619 Consortium, and the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI). It’s relevant to individuals who serve infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities.
http://www.ideainfanttoddler.org/webinars.htm

Addressing the mental health needs of young children in the child welfare system: What every policymaker should know.
From the National Center for Children in Poverty, this issue brief explores what we currently know about the prevalence of young children (ages birth to 5) in the child welfare system, how maltreatment or neglect affects their development, and the services currently offered versus needed for these young children.
http://www.nccp.org/premium-publications/pub_968.html

Preparing professionals to work in early childhood.
In 2009, NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children) revised its Standards for Programs that Prepare Early Childhood Professionals. Clinical field experiences are emphasized for teachers working with children birth through age 8.
http://www.naeyc.org/newsroom/pressreleases/NCATEPanelReport

Dealing with reading disabilities in children while teaching.
Here’s a 4-page, easy-to-ready synopsis and suggestions for teachers.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19255079/Dealing-With-Reading-Disabilities-in-Children-While-Teaching

Accommodating students with psychiatric disabilities.
And here are 13 very good pages for teachers.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21506119/Accommodating-Students-With-Psychiatric-Disabilities

Two guides for out-of-school-time program practitioners.
Both are hot off the press from Child Trends.

Assessing Self-Regulation in Children and Youth
Being able to suppress impulsive behavior and to adjust behavior as appropriate has been linked to positive outcomes for children and adolescents. This brief defines self-regulation and why it is important, provides three measures of self-regulation skills of children and teens, and includes tips for enhancing self-regulation skills in out-of-school time programs.
http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2010_10_05_RB_AssesSelfReg.pdf

Assessing Stress in Children and Youth
This brief identifies characteristics of youth who may be particularly vulnerable to stress, provides two scales to measure stress among adolescents, and includes tips and resources for helping youth deal with stress.
http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2010_10_05_RB_AssessingStress.pdf

Home-to-school connections guide.
Here’s Edutopia’s latest classroom resource guide highlighting new solutions for connecting home and school in order to improve student learning and success.
http://www.edutopia.org/home-to-school-connections-guide

Student data privacy.
Basic Concepts and Definitions for Privacy and Confidentiality in Student Education Records discusses basic concepts and definitions that establish a common set of terms related to the protection of personally identifiable information, especially in education records in the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS). A product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences.
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011601

Video | Health and Transition in the IEP.
“Embedding Health Outcomes in the Individualized Education Program” is
a video recording of a 40-minute teleconference that provides information
and specific examples of health-related goals for an IEP. From the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
http://dpimedia.wi.gov/main/Viewer/?peid=f44dfa70439241dd85e99cce0cb70e26

CD | Health and the IEP.
The Wisconsin Community on Transition Health Practice Group has developed health-related training materials that can be used with schools, health providers, families, and directly with youth to help youth with disabilities learn to more effectively manage their health care concerns.
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/wrc/pub.html

Department of Education releases finalized National Education Technology Plan.
http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-finalized-national-education-technology-plan

What are states doing to recruit and retain qualified special education personnel, including related service providers?
Project Forum and the Personnel Improvement Center have recently published this report, which summarizes the results of a survey of SEAs on special education recruitment and retention strategies.
http://tinyurl.com/2g2gnbn

Revised Q&A for the Part C Child Count data collection.
From the Data Accountability Center (DAC), find this document at the link below, under the TA materials tab, 618 Data Collection Information.
http://www.IDEAdata.org

State systems for tracking outcomes for students with disabilities through postsecondary activities.
President Obama’s administration has made the development of longitudinal data systems that are able to track individual students from preK through their postsecondary activities a key component of education reform. Findings from the survey describe the number and status of states that are at varying levels of development and implementation of these data systems and the barriers and benefits to this development.  A Project Forum brief policy analysis. http://www.projectforum.org/

Data stewardship.
This Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Technical Brief focuses on data stewardship, which involves each organization’s commitment to ensuring that privacy, confidentiality, security, and the appropriate use of data are respected when personally identifiable information is collected. Data stewardship involves all aspects of data collection, from planning, collection and maintenance to use and dissemination. A product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education.
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011602

Study of states’ monitoring and improvement practices under IDEA.
This report provides a description of the nature and scope of states’ Part B and Part C monitoring systems. Data on 20 states’ monitoring systems in 2004-05 and 2006-07 were collected during two site visits. The report describes states’ approaches to monitoring and how states’ monitoring systems and processes mapped onto a framework developed for the study. From the National Center for Special Education Research.
http://ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/20113001/pdf/20113001.pdf

Computer-based testing in large-scale assessments.
Computer-based testing (CBT) has emerged as one of the recent “innovative” approaches to state and district-wide assessments and as an avenue toward greater accessibility for students with disabilities. This report explores the context of CBT, current state computer-based tests, and considerations for students with disabilities. NCEO Synthesis Report 78.
http://www.cehd.umn.edu/NCEO/OnlinePubs/Synthesis78/default.htm

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Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET

$125,000 Salary for Master Middle School Teacher

New York City
Job Category: (Special Education)

Description
Earn a $125,000 salary and join a team of master teachers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, recently featured on the front page of the New York Times: (http://www.tepcharter.org/nytimes.php).

TEP is a 480-student 5th through 8th grade middle school in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.  Applications are currently being accepted for teaching positions in Science, Latin, Math, English, Social Studies, Music, PE/Health Education, and Special Education.

Learn more and apply today at http://www.tepcharter.org/apply.php

About TEP Charter School
TEP aims to put into practice the central conclusion of a large body of research related to student achievement: teacher quality is the most important school-based factor in the academic success of students, particularly those from low-income families. In singling out teacher quality as the essential lever in educational reform, TEP is uniquely focused on attracting and retaining master teachers. To do so, TEP uses a three-pronged strategy that it terms the 3 R’s: Rigorous Qualifications, Redefined Expectations, & Revolutionary Compensation.

For more information, visit us online at http://www.tepcharter.org

Compensation
$125,000 salary + potential annual bonus, full benefits package

Requirements & Application
Learn more and apply today at http://www.tepcharter.org/apply.php

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Senior Alternate Assessment Specialist

Washington, DC
Job Category: Special Education SME/Test Development/Program Man

Description
Senior Alternate Assessment Specialist responsibilities include:

• Demonstrate leadership for AIR in the alternate assessment practice area among clients, partner organizations, and at national meetings.
• Provide subject matter expertise and leadership to state department staff who have responsible for the development and oversight of state wide alternate assessments.
• Contribute ideas and information to support project efforts through presentations, trainings or seminars; while working directly with state department of education and district level staff.
• Work with internal staff and subcontractors to develop processes, procedures, for meeting project deliverables and client special education related needs.
• Work collaboratively with AIR staff to ensure that all plans and schedules are viable.
• Adhere to a master schedule of deadlines and deliverables.
  Provide information, support, and problem-solving to the clients, as needed, in a manner that provides positive solutions.
• Keep AIR senior management informed of any potential project problems, including issues with a client or another stakeholder and any potential for missed deadlines.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in special education, autism spectrum disorders, or low incidence disabilities.
• Minimum of 5 years of instructing students (K-12) with significant cognitive disabilities in academic content areas.
• Experience working in alternate assessment, extended/expanded standards and large-scale assessment.
• Experience teaching students with deaf-blindness is desirable.
• Experience providing instruction using assistive technology is desirable.
  Benefits

AIR offers an excellent compensation and benefits package, including a fully funded retirement plan, generous paid time off, subsidized garage parking, tuition assistance, and more.

Contact
TO APPLY, please go to our Career Center at: https://jobs-airdc.icims.com/jobs/6403/job

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DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT – BOULDER, COLORADO
Job Category: Administration

Description:

• Work collaboratively with central administrative staff, principals and other staff to support and supervise special education policies, procedures, practices and personnel.
• In-depth understanding of the RtI process and inclusionary practices in special education
• Training and demonstrated success in special education curriculum development, staff development, educational leadership and administration

Visit our website at www.bvsd.org for further information.

Requirements
Colo Admin or Prin License with Sp Ed Director Endorsement
Demonstrated success as a school level administrator

More info atwww.bvsd.org.

Benefits
Please visit our website at www.bvsd.org for further information.

Contact
judy.steinbaugh@bvsd.org, 720-561-5032, Fax 720-561-5098, hrd@bvsd.org, www.bvsd.org

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Funding Forecast and Award Opportunities

Earthwatch: Education Fellowships
http://www.earthwatch.org/aboutus/education/edopp/edfelfund/
The Earthwatch Institute offers educators fully funded fellowships for hands-on learning with leading scientists doing field research and conservation on one of 130 projects. Earthwatch’s Education Fellowships are national in scope, and supported by a wide range of businesses, foundations, and individuals. Maximum award: full cost of expedition, including all research costs, meals, housing, on-site travel, etc. Eligibility: K-12 classroom educators of any subject(s) from public or private schools nationwide. Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Intel Schools of Distinction Awards
http://www.intel.com/about/corporateresponsibility/education/soda/index.htm#
Every year, Intel honors K-12 schools in the U.S. demonstrating excellence in math and science education through innovative teaching and learning environments, developing an environment and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks put forth by national mathematics and science content standards. Up to three schools at each level (elementary, middle, and high school) will be named as finalists in the math and science categories. Each school will receive a cash grant of $5,000 from the Intel Foundation and a trip to Washington DC for a four-member team from their school and district. Six winners will be selected from the 18 finalists and receive a $10,000 cash grant, and products and services from program sponsors. One of the six will be selected as the “Star Innovator” and will receive a $25,000 grant. The program is open to K-12 public, private, charter, and parochial schools in the United States, Department of Defense Dependents schools, and Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. Eligibility is limited to accredited schools that are publicly funded and/or not-for-profit. Deadline for applications: February 17, 2011.

Best Buy: Teach@15 Award
http://www.bestbuy-communityrelations.com/teach_awards.htm
Best Buy’s Teach@15 Award program improves classroom learning by helping schools (grades 7-12) meet technology needs. A teen member (age 13-18) who is a registered member on www.at15.com can nominate his/her school to win a Teach@15 Award. Eligible are accredited, nonprofit junior or senior public, private, parochial, magnet, and charter high schools in the U.S. serving any grades 7-12.

Campbell’s: Labels for Education
http://www.labelsforeducation.com/about-the-program.aspx
The Campbell’s, Inc., Labels for Education Program gives schools free educational equipment in exchange for labels from Campbell products. For more than 30 years, Labels for Education has been awarding free educational equipment to schools in exchange for proofs of purchase from the Campbell family of brands.

Federal Student Aid – Grant Program (English)
http://tinyurl.com/yfbe5tb
From Disability.gov, the English-language version of this fact sheet provides an overview of the major federal student aid grant programs. The federal government provides grant funds for students attending colleges, including career colleges and universities. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Available in pdf (42.4 KB, 1 p).

Federal Student Aid – Grant Program (Spanish)
http://tinyurl.com/282krpk
From Disability.gov, the Spanish-language version of this fact sheet provides an overview of the major federal student aid grant programs. The federal government provides grant funds for students attending colleges, including career colleges and universities. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Available in pdf (145 KB, 1 p).

Funding Education Beyond High School – Federal Student Aid at a Glance
http://tinyurl.com/2bzq9sa
A quick reference guide and Federal Student Aid Summary Chart that describes various federal student aid programs, who may be eligible, and how to apply.

On Line Compilations of Scholarships for Students with Disabilities from Michigan State University
http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3disable.htm
A comprehensive list of scholarships offered to students with disabilities located on the Michigan State University Libraries website.

Do Something Invites Applications for Six Flags Friends Scholarships
http://www.dosomething.org/grants/sixflags/scholarships
Do Something has teamed up with Six Flags Friends to award college scholarships to young leaders who are taking action to make their community (locally or globally) a better place. Scholarships will be awarded based on past, current, and planned action in the community as well as the applicant’s passion, commitment, and proven leadership skills. Six scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded.

NEA Learning and Leadership Grant
http://tinyurl.com/yacbb5b
NEA’s Learning & Leadership grants support public school teachers, public education support professionals, or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for two purposes: grants to individuals to fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research; and grants to groups to fund college study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment.

Powered by Service Offers Funding to Seed Youth-Led Service Projects
http://tinyurl.com/y8l7j44
Grants will be awarded to young people around the world who are conducting service projects that encourage youth to become involved in addressing problems facing their communities. Grants presently are being accepting only from Atlanta GA, Detroit MI, Los Angeles CA, Milwaukee WI, New Orleans LA and New York NY, but other communities will be added at intervals. Deadline: Open.

Travelocity’s Travel for Good Volunteer Travel Opportunities
http://tinyurl.com/2v7sh2
Travelocity’s Travel for Good offers funding quarterly for its Change Ambassadors Grant to help support Americans who wish to travel to participate in volunteer opportunities (volunteer vacations). Two grants of $5,000 each will be awarded to individuals or groups going on volunteer vacations; applicants must demonstrate a previous commitment to volunteering and financial need. Deadline: not applicable.

Financial Aid On Disabilityinfo.Gov
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=84
This Web site includes links to scholarship applications for students with various disabilities for graduate and undergraduate as well as vocational studies.

Got Grants?
http://www.teachersourcebook.org/tsb/articles/2009/03/16/02grants.h02.html
Successful education grant writers offer advice on how to access teacher-learning funds.

Michigan State Library of Financial Aid
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3disable.htm
Michigan State’s comprehensive list of financial aid resources for students with disabilities can be found at their Web site.

Scholarships4students.Com
http://www.scholarships4students.com/special_scholarships.htm
Scholarships4students’s Web site includes a list of scholarships for students with disabilities, by disability category.

National Scholarship Providers Association
http://www.scholarshipproviders.org
The National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) web site offers information on NSPA scholarships for Latino students and for students formerly in foster care. A new NPSA product, the Scholarship Data Standard, allows students to complete an online scholarship application and then re-use the information with other scholarship providers without retyping their data.

Charles Lafitte Foundation: Grants for Education & Child Advocacy
http://www.charleslafitte.org/education.html
The Charles Lafitte Foundation Grants Program helps groups and individuals foster lasting improvement on the human condition by providing support to education, children’s advocacy, medical research, and the arts. Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations. Deadline: rolling.

Plum Grants
http://www.dosomething.org/programs/plum-grant-guidelines
Individuals who have recently created a sustainable community action project, program or organization and need $500 to further the growth and success of the program are eligible to apply for a Plum Youth Grant. Plum grants are given out weekly. Deadline: None.

Nonprofit Music Programs
http://www.guitarcentermusicfoundation.org/grants/index.cfm?sec=info
The Guitar Center Music Foundation’s mission is to aid nonprofit music programs across America that offer music instruction so that more people can experience the joys of making music. Maximum Award: $5000. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations. Qualifying applicants are established, ongoing and sustainable music programs across the United States that provide music instruction for people of any age who would not otherwise have the opportunity to make music. Deadline: N/A.

Live Monarch Educator Outreach Program
http://www.lmf-educator-award.com/index.html
The Live Monarch Foundation Educator Outreach Program provides funding for U.S. teachers to enroll in the National Campaign to bring monarch butterflies into the classroom. This program provides education and materials to strengthen the monarch’s 3,000-mile migratory route within North America by creating self-sustaining butterfly gardens and refuges. Materials will be provided for each participant to raise a virtual butterfly and start a real butterfly garden with professional instruction on each level of its maintenance and care. Maximum Award: n/a. Eligibility: teachers and classrooms in areas on the monarch migratory route. Deadline: rolling.

Disaboom Scholarship Directory
http://www.disaboom.com/scholarships
Disaboom recently launched a scholarship directory for students with disabilities, listing over 125 scholarships.

Federal Student Aid Grant Program Fact Sheet
http://tinyurl.com/yfbe5tb
Disability.Gov has created a fact sheet that provides an overview of the major federal student aid grant programs. The federal government provides grant funds for students attending colleges, including career colleges and universities. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. (A Spanish version is at: http://tinyurl.com/yz2zheg.) Available in pdf (1 page, 164 KB).

Funding Education Beyond High School
http://tinyurl.com/yk7uot7
The US Department of Education’s Guide to Federal Student Aid (2009-2010) provides information for students and families on applying for federal student aid to pay for post-secondary education. This guide explains the application process, the various federal loans, grants, and work-study programs available, and how to apply for them. Education creates opportunities and is an important step toward success. Available in pdf (64 pages, 2.95 MB).

NASFAA and Casey Family programs: Guide to Financial Aid Assistance to Students from Foster Care and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
www.casey.org/Resources/Publications/ProvidingEffectiveFinancialAid.htm
This guide provides information for those who help youth from foster care and unaccompanied homeless youth to secure financial aid for postsecondary education or training programs. It describes how to respond to new FAFSA questions 55-60 that will determine federal financial aid status for these students. A section on sensitive communications is also included. This guide will be useful for financial aid professionals, independent living coordinators, guidance counselors, financial aid counselors, social workers and advocates who are helping youth to secure the maximum allowable financial aid.

Scholarships and Internships for Latino Students with Disabilities
http://www.proyectovision.net/english/opportunities/scholarships.html
The World Institute on Disability (WID) has a five-year grant to establish the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities living in the United States, through Proyecto Vision. Proyecto Vision’s website has a list of scholarship opportunities for college students who are Latino and who are living with disability.

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Acknowledgements

Portions of this month’s NASET Special Educator e-Journal were excerpted from:

• Committee on Education and the Workforce
• FirstGov.gov-The Official U.S. Government Web Portal
• National Center on Secondary Education and Transition, an electronic newsletter of the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET), available online at http://www.ncset.org/enews. NCSET is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
• National Institute of Health
• National Organization on Disability
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• U.S. Department of Education
• U.S. Department of Education-The Achiever
• U.S. Department of Education-The Education Innovator
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• U.S. Office of Special Education
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) thanks all of the above for the information provided for this edition of the NASETSpecial Educator e-Journal.

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