Special Education

Internet Sites:

• Special Connections
Special Connections is a compilation of ideas and materials, funded through the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), and coordinated through the University of Kansas. Four main areas of focus include Instruction, Assessment, Behavior Plans, and Collaboration. Tools for implementing specific practices, case study materials, and references and resources related to each practice are provided in each module. www.specialconnections.ku.edu/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/specconn/index.php

• National Center on Student Progress Monitoring
Progress monitoring is used to measure the effectiveness of instruction for an individual student, class, or school. Results are used to make needed adjustments in instructional programs. In special education, progress monitoring can be used to measure student achievement of IEP goals and objectives. This site is sponsored by the National Center on Student Progress Monitoring.
http://www.studentprogress.org/

• Intervention Central
Intervention Central is a collection of freely available tools and resources for differentiating clasroom instruction, as well as providing effective behavioral intervention and academic assessment, to meet the needs of all students in inclusive settings. The site was created and is maintained by Jim Wright, a school psychologist in Syracuse, NY.
http://www.interventioncentral.org/

• LD Online
LD Online is a service of WETA, public broadcasting station in Washington, DC. It provides comprehensive information on learning disabilities and general special education services for parents, teachers, and other professionals.
http://ldonline.org/

• National Center on Educational Outcomes
The National Center on Educational Outcomes is associated with the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Department of Education. It produces and disseminates information on the participation and performance of students with disabilities in statewide assessment programs.
http://education.umn.edu/nceo/

• Count Me In: Special Education in an Era of Standards
This Quality Counts 2004 report from Education Week examines the issues that accompany the new federal law’s requirement that all students, including those with disabilities, perform at the “proficient” level on state tests. (May require free registration.)
http://counts.edweek.org/sreports/qc04/article.cfm?slug=17exec.h23

• Action Kit: Discrimination in Special Education
“Nationwide, minority students are over represented in special education programs indicating widespread misdiagnosis . . . If race, sex, or national origin are suspected of either influencing a childÂ’s placement, or the level of services a child receives, complaints may be made in court or filed with the United States Department of Education.”
http://www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu/resources/action_kits/special_ed2.php

• Special Education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
From the National Education Association, links to research and other publications about special education and IDEA.
http://www.nea.org/specialed/index.html

• Special Education Expenditure Project
Funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education, this is the first national study of special education expenditures in 15 years.
http://csef.air.org

• CEC Performance-Based Standards
“The Council for Exceptional Children has completed development of performance-based standards for the preparation and licensure of special educators in preparation for approval by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).”
http://www.cec.sped.org/ps/perf_based_stds/index.html

• Twenty-Five Years of Educating Children with Disabilities (2002)
“This report highlights a variety of statistics showing the progress made during the past quarter-century in educating children with disabilities.” Published by the American Youth Policy Forum and the Center on Education Policy.
http://www.ctredpol.org/specialeducation/25yearseducatingchildren.htm

• Rethinking Special Education for a New Century (May 2001)
A collection of papers examining special education and offering new ideas for lawmakers to consider during next year’s reauthorization of the IDEA.
http://www.edexcellence.net/library/special_ed/index.html

• A Guide to the Individualized Education Program
“The purpose of this guidance is to assist educators, parents, and State and local educational agencies in implementing the requirements of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for children with disabilities, including preschool-aged children.” Provided by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, U.S. Department of Education.
http://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html

• Developing Legally Correct and Educationally Appropriate IEPs
This article provides an overview of the IEP process and includes guidelines to assist schools.
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/iep/legally_correct_ieps.html

• Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI)
(SERI) is a collection of Internet accessible information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to special education.
http://seriweb.com/

• National Institute for Urban School Improvement
Funded by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, the National Institute for Urban School Improvement seeks to combine the reform efforts pertaining to special needs children with general reform efforts for all children in urban schools. http://www.edc.org/urban/

• World Wide Web of Private Special Education Schools
Includes a database of schools searchable by state, name, or population served. Also includes related resources and organizations.
http://www.spedschools.com/
 

Online Communities:

• SPECED-L
Special education issues discussion.
To subscribe, address an e-mail message to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
In the message body type: SUBSCRIBE SPECED-L Your First and Last Name

• Special Education Chatboard at Teachers.net
This resource facilitates networking and communication between Special Education teachers across the globe.
http://teachers.net/mentors/special_education/

Organizations:

• Council for Exceptional Children
1110 N. Glebe Rd.
Arlington, VA 22201-5704
Tel: 703/620-3660
Toll Free: 888/CEC-SPED
TTY: 703/264-9446
Fax: 703/264-9494
http://www.cec.sped.org

• National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education
1110 N. Glebe Rd.
Arlington, VA 22201-5704
Toll-free: 1-800-641-7824
Phone: (703) 264-9476
TTY: (703) 264-9480
Fax: (703) 264-1637
E-mail: ncpse@cec.sped.org
http://www.specialedcareers.org/

• National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 320
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 519-3800
TTY: (703) 519-7008
Fax: (703) 519-3808
Email: http://www.nasdse.org/contactus.cfm
http://www.nasdse.org/home.htm

• National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (NAPSEC)
NAPSEC is a nonprofit association whose mission is to ensure access for individuals to private special education as a vital component of the continuum of appropriate placement and services in American education. The association consists solely of private special education schools that serve both privately and publicly placed individuals with disabilities. Their web site advertises a free referral service.
1522 K Street, NW, Suite 1032
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-408-3338
Fax: 202-408-3340
http://www.napsec.com/