sade096

Growth of voucher and ESA (education savings account) programs has drawn attention to the ways states ensure accountability and transparency to the public and prospective parents. With over half of voucher and ESA programs specifically designed for students with disabilities, there is interest in the information parents receive about special education services and rights when enrolling in a choice program. GAO was asked to examine these topics in more depth. The GAO found that almost all of the 27 private school choice program websites provide a directory of participating schools and some provide guidance on selecting schools. However, GAO estimates that no more than half of all schools participating in any type of voucher program mention students with disabilities anywhere on their websites, according to GAO’s review of a nationally generalizable sample of websites of private schools in voucher programs. Further, GAO estimates that no more than 53 percent of private schools in voucher...

The Endrew F decision has been around for a while now, is it making a difference for children with disabilities? #FAPE

Happy Thanksgiving. On this gratitude day, we all take the time to remember why we are thankful. Have a great day. To help us celebrate, here are some fun facts from our friends at the U S Census Bureau: In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims — early settlers of Plymouth Colony — held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Many regard this event as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. The Wampanoag Indians in attendance played a key role. Historians have recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America. These include the British colonists in Virginia as early as 1619. The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived the centuries, as the event became a national holiday 154 years ago (Oct. 3, 1863) when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving Day should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage...

The Endrew F decision has been around for a while now, is it making a difference for children with disabilities? #FAPE

First of all thank you to all of you who participated in my presentation on the Endrew F decision  by the Supreme Court sponsored by the National Conference of the Administrative Law Judiciary. I was amazed that registration had to be closed when 150 people signed up. Unfortunately there were some technical issues with the presentation. Some of you told me that you were able to hear the entire  presentation hindered only by some static once I turned up my volume. Others had more difficulties. Sorry about that. As my nephew says "technology is great- except when it isn't." In any event, I enjoyed the session and all of the great questions that you sent in. It was fun discussing the future of the meaning of FAPE! Thanks.