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The Common Core State Standards Collections are now available on our Partnership website. Each includes tools for presenting the information to parents and practitioners interested in learning about the Common Core Standards. The two collections currently include:

•  The Common Core Collection 
• Assessments for the Common Core Collection  

The IDEA Partnership will host two overview webinars twice a month beginning June 14, 2012. After attending the Overview webinar, participants will have an opportunity to request virtual mentoring to develop a customized plan for using the tools in their work.

Register for Overview Webinar on using the Collections at http://www.ideapartnership.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1559

May 6-7, 2012 National Community of Practice on Transition Meeting, Charlotte, NC

Ten state teams, 12 national organizations and seven technical assistance (TA) centers met at the IDEA Partnership's annual National Community of Practice on Transitionin Charlotte, NC May 6-7, 2012. Community members defined their deepening connections and created new opportunities for shared work around universal design for learning (UDL) and accessible transportation. The agenda and a summary of the proceedings can be found on the meeting wiki.       

• Final agenda and other materials  

  News from Partner Organizations   

Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)

 Response-to-Instruction and Universal Design for Learning: How Might They Intersect in the General Education Classroom?  This white paper explores the complementary attributes of Response-to-Instruction (RTI) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). It provides background information on RTI and UDL, describes similarities and differences between the two frameworks and discusses intersections between the two in the classroom.    

Education Commission of the States (ECS)

• Teacher Evaluator Training: Ensuring Quality Classroom Observers 

This brief discusses improving the quality of teacher evaluations by ensuring the individuals doing the observing - be they administrators, other teachers or outside contractors - are well-trained and the process results in inter-rater reliability.

• State Aid to Nonpublic Schools 

This document identifies states that provide aid to nonpublic schools and identifies state constitutional restrictions on providing such assistance..

U.S. Department of Education Issues Resource Document that Discourages Restraint and Seclusion: Press Release: May 15, 2012

• Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document 

• Website 

The U.S. Department of Education issued a resource guide that outlines principles for educators, parents and other stakeholders discouraging the use of seclusion and restraint in schools while keeping both students and school personnel safe. Read entire press release.  

• Investing in America's Future: A Blueprint for Transforming Career and Technical Education 

This document is the Administration's blueprint for the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins Act). The Blueprint calls for improving career and technical education (CTE) programs under the Perkins Act by focusing on four key areas: alignment, collaboration, accountability and innovation.

Office of Early Learning (OEL)

OEL Website  

The Department's newly-established Office of Early Learning (OEL) web site provides information about the early learning programs and initiatives at the Department.

Research website 

NICHCY's website provides access to recent journal articles related to federal and state special education laws, dispute resolution and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM)

• Quality Indicators for the Provision of Accessible Instructional Materials 

• Critical Components of Quality Indicators for the Provision of Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) 

The purpose of the quality indicators and their critical components is to assist state and local education agencies (SEAs and LEAs) with planning, implementing and evaluating dynamic, coordinated systems for the timely provision of AIM.

•  The Right of Students to Receive AIM (2012) 

This brief describes the various legal requirements in IDEA and Section 504 that relate to the right of students with disabilities to receive AIM.

• An Examination of NIMAS/NIMAC Provisions in IDEA 2004 (2012) 

This brief provides an overview of the legal requirements concerning AIM. It explains provisions that were included in IDEA 2004 to improve the quality and delivery of AIM to students with disabilities. These include the establishment of the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC).  

Center for Applied Special Technology(CAST)

Purchasing Accessible Learning Materials (PALM)  

As classrooms start to incorporate more digital technology, it becomes increasingly important that materials used in the classroom are designed to be useable by all students. This may require adjustments in the way materials are purchased, and that, in turn, will drive the availability of more flexible and accessible learning materials in the marketplace. CAST is launching the PALM Initiative (Purchase Accessible Learning Materials) to ensure this change happens as soon as possible.

Center on Instruction (COI)

Intensive Interventions for Students Struggling in Reading and Mathematics  

This publication provides research-based guidance that reflects "best practices" for intensifying instruction in reading and mathematics for students with significant learning difficulties in K-12, including students with disabilities. It can also be used as a resource for instructional specialists and special education teachers who are searching for broad guidelines on the design and delivery of intensive interventions.

Equity Alliance at Arizona State University (ASU)

Culturally Responsive Positive Behavioral Supports Matter (CRPBIS)  

This brief is the first in a series of publications defining CRPBIS and describing what it looks like in action.

Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD)

•  English version: Family Information Guide to Assistive Technology and Transition Planning   

This guide, written in parent-friendly language, addresses relevant laws as well as accounts from students regarding how use of assistive technology helped them successfully transition to postsecondary education, employment and independent living.  For Spanish version, go to  

http://www.fctd.info/assets/assets/15/Spanish-Transition-Guide.pdf?1318347648  

IRIS Center

•  Universal Design for Learning: Creating a Learning Environment that Challenges and Engages All Students   

This online module provides information on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and examples of implementation in the classroom. It utilizes a case example to highlight goals, instructional materials and methods and assessment considerations when implementing UDL.

•  Differentiated Instruction: Maximizing the Learning of All Students 

This online module on differentiated instruction provides short video clips, interactive questions and answers, examples of utilizing differentiated instruction in general and special education classes and links to additional resources. 

National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII)

Home page 

The National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII) is a new technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).NCII's mission is to help stakeholders across the country learn about and implement intensive interventions to enhance academic and behavioral outcomes for students with disabilities in kindergarten through 12th grade.

News from Other Centers and Organizations  

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

School Improvement Grants: Education Should Take Additional Steps to Enhance Accountability for Schools and Contractors. GAO-12-373, April 11.

The School Improvement Grant (SIG) program funds reforms in low performing schools.

GAO examined (1) what, if any, aspects of the SIG program pose challenges for successful implementation; (2) how the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and state guidance - as well as procedures for screening potential contractors and reviewing contractor performance - compare with leading practices; and (3) to what extent ED's technical assistance and oversight activities are effectively supporting SIG implementation.

Alliance for Excellent Education

The Digital Learning Imperative: How Technology and Teaching Meet Today's Education Challenges  

This report is an update to one previously published under the title: The Online Learning Imperative: A Solution to Three Looming Crises in Education In this update, the authors make the case for implementing digital learning that blends the best of traditional and online learning. It includes new definitions and data, specific benefits of digital learning, examples of impact on student outcomes, a broader look at technology/digital learning and describes the important connections between instruction, learning and technology.

National Center on Teacher Quality (NCTQ)

What Teacher Preparation Programs Teach About K-12 Assessment  

Over the past several decades, federal and state governments, school districts and education leaders have invested significant resources to develop assessments and data systems to track student performance. Yet little attention has been paid to the importance of building the capacity of teachers to use data on student learning to inform and improve instruction. As part of the National Review of Teacher Preparation Programs, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) is examining the extent to which teacher preparation programs train teachers to understand assessment data and use that data to make informed instructional adjustments.

• Related document: Professional Standards: Accreditation of Teacher Preparation Institutions 

Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI)

Transition to Adulthood Guidelines  

This set of four guides describes the challenges and raises awareness of important considerations during transition to adulthood for the individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Each publication includes a list of resources and links to other important information. The four titles include:

• Age-Appropriate Transition Assessment,
• Employment,
• IEP Transition Components  
• School Age Programming to Prepare for Transition to Adulthood 

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)

Anti-Bullying Toolkit 

The Anti-Bullying Toolkit is specifically designed to help the special needs audience navigate all aspects of bullying. The Toolkit consists of three separate modules:

For Parents, For Educators , For Students. These provide resources to confront bullying of children with special needs from a variety of aspects, including how to talk to children about bullying, understanding a child's right to be protected from bullying and teaching tolerance in schools.