Essential Bulletin for Educators
June 2023
Show-and-Tell is an excellent way for children to feel validated as they connect with their classmates.
Ideas include:
- Science experiment
- Favorite song
- Hidden talent
- Memory jar
- Foreign language
The Supreme Court's decision in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools in Michigan clarified that a procedural requirement under IDEA does not bar students from suing schools under the ADA for damages that are not available under IDEA.
This means that students with disabilities can sue schools for damages under the ADA without first exhausting the administrative process required by IDEA.
The decision also clarified that a student who has settled an administrative complaint under IDEA may still sue for damages under the ADA.
The Pennsylvania Fellowship Program (PFP) for Special Education Leaders is a year-long, comprehensive continuum of professional development that will result in a systematic view of special education while building the leadership capacity of the participant.
Fellows are engaged in learning, networking, and mentoring opportunities built to enhance their capacity and promote effective programming to ensure success for all students with disabilities. The PFP is designed specifically for special education leaders with three or less years of experience in their current role.
The goals of the PFP for Special Education Leaders are to:
- Increase the skills and knowledge of legal issues and reporting procedures required in special education.
- Build and support a cadre of special education leaders who can achieve improved results for all students with disabilities.
- Develop a culture of learning and teaching within LEAs so all staff have the knowledge and skills to support students with disabilities.
- Promote the development of a network of collaborative relationships with professionals in similar positions from across the state.
Are you a current or retired School Psychologist, Special Education Administrator, Special Education Teacher, Teacher of the Deaf, or Teacher of the Visually Impaired with five or more years of experience?
The application will be available on the APR Repository beginning Monday, June 12, 2023 through Monday, July 31, 2023.
Participating mentors will receive training and ongoing support. Stipends will be provided to all mentors. Questions regarding the APR Mentoring Project may be directed to the APR State Lead, Christine Moon at cmoon@pattanpgh.net.
The mission of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is to support the efforts and initiatives of the Bureau of Special Education, and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to serve students who receive special education services.