News

The Office of Great Start, Early Childhood Education and Family Services are to conduct Public hearings  to receive comment on the proposed Michi...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
OCR takes a process-oriented approach when conducting complaint investigations and compliance reviews.  To OCR, procedural compliance is the key....

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
Recently, the Michigan Department of Education revised its guidance documents pertaining to  State and Due Process Complaints.  Aside from r...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
  The US Department of Education (“USDOE”) has revised its regulations governing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”).  ...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
  In September of 2011, OSERS revised its Q&A Document pertaining to IEPs, Evaluations, and Reevaluations. The Q&A Document now has...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
  Hot off the Press: At a November 16, 2011 Conference on the Part C Regulations, the United States Department of Education issued Non-Regu...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
  The US Department of Education (USDOE) took a different approach to the promulgation of regulations for IDEA 2004 when it decided to work firs...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
  On October 18, 2011, the Michigan Rules for Special Education Programs and Services and the School Social Worker rules were revised. ...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
  The United States Justice Department (“DOJ”) recently issued a new technical assistance document that provides guidance on the revised ADA reg...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
  In a recently released letter, OCR issued new guidance on how districts must respond to sexual violence under Title IX. The guidance rein...

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

Math EGLCE Workshop at Wayne RESA on May 26, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services seeks public input on a technical assistance document tiled, Evaluation Procedures.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

On January 4, 2011, President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a food safety bill, into law.  Incorporated in the act is the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act (FAAMA). 

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

Award presented to Sharon L. LaPointe at the 71st Annual MCEC Conference on Thursday, March 3, 2011.

This is the highest award given by the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children and was named for a pioneer in special education.  The award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the education of children with exceptionalities.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The Michigan Council for Exceptional Children created the Michigan Foundation for Exceptional Children in 2001.  This scholarship program is intended to provide support for education/training opportunities when students are no longer eligible for special education (and Section 504) programs and services provided by public education (i.e. graduation or reaching 26 years of age).  Awards can be granted up to $1,500 and would support anything from transportation, special equipment, tutoring, including tuition.  These funds are intended to augment, not replace, funds available through other agencies.

Complete applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2011.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

In a recently issued memorandum, OSEP wrote that Districts have an obligation to comply with IDEA's initial evaluation provisions regardless of whether the District plans to or is already using RTI strategies with its students. 

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share
Section 300.510 of the Individuals with Disability Education Act requires that a resolution session be convened to attempt to resolve a Due Process Hearing dispute within 15 calendar days (7 days for an expedited matter) after the complaint is filed.  Indicator #18 of the Annual Performance Report requires the Michigan Department of Education to submit data regarding resolution sessions to the U.S. Department of Education.  To enhance accuracy of the data, the MDE Due Process Hearing Procedures now require districts to submit a resolution session summary form.  This form must be submitted whether or not a resolution session was conducted.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services will conduct public hearings to receive public comment on administrative rules and documents.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

In a recently issued opinion, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox addressed whether provisions of the Revised School Code requiring employee background checks apply to employees of higher education institutions who are providing instruction to K-12 students.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently released a letter discussing bullying in schools and the related implications of discriminatory harassment. OCR seeks to remind schools that bullying or harassment which is based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability can be a violation of civil rights under Title II, Title VI, Title IX or Section 504.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

 The Michigan Department of Education has published a guide to the Michigan criteria for determining the existence of a specific learning disability. The criteria listed are to be used by the MET in creating an evaluation report and making recommendations to the IEP team.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The Department of Education has awarded more than $19.9 million to support the education of special educators. Most of the funds will be used to increase the number of quality, fully qualified individuals to serve as special education personnel. It will also be used to support the education of special education paraprofessionals and educational interpreters. The remaining $6 million will be used as grants to support doctoral, post-doctoral and special education administration degree programs. In Michigan, Western Michigan University was the recipient of two grants.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The Department of Education announced awards for two federal programs that help to create opportunities in higher education for students with intellectual disabilities. There were 28 grants for a total of $10.9 million. $10.564 million wil go to 27 two- and four-year institutions in 23 states under the model comprehensive Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID). The remaining $330,000 will go to the University of Massachusetts - Boston to support the TPSID grantees and other programs around the country.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

Revised Department of Justice ADA regulations were published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010. There have been changes made to the regulations governing service animals, wheelchairs and other power-driven mobility devices, design standards for recreational facilities and more. The revised ADA regulations will take effect on March 15, 2011.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The Justice Department has published four new proposals for the Americans with Disabilities Act. The proposals aim to reconcile technological advances with the current ADA regulations. The Justice Department is proposing changes pertaining to accessibility of websites and movies, furniture and equipment, and 9-1-1 center technology.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

On July 27, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced 18 States and the District of Columbia are finalists for the second round of federal funding available from the Race to the Top program.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has issued a revised Q&A for guidance on individualized education programs (IEPs), evaluations, and reevaluations.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

The report from the National Center for Special Education Research describes the perspective of teachers on the implementation of alternative assessments for students.

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share

Even though parents failed to give a district notice of their intent to make a private placement at public expense prior to removing their son from the district, a federal district court has ruled that the parents could receive reimbursement prospectively from the time that they did give notice and afford the district an opportunity to address their concerns. Shipler v. Maxwell, 52 IDELR 279 (D Md, 2009).

Read More

Posted in: News
Bookmark and Share