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Greetings!
As we work together to address the economic challenges facing our nation, the NAEAACLD has taken steps to reduce operational costs and become more efficient. This new online version of the quarterly newsletter will replace the earlier edition. Please note that our work to improve educational outcomes for African American children will not be diminished by cuts in funding. Only our method of delivery will change. Thank you for your continued support! |
| Online Training |
| New Online Training for Parent Leaders |
| In response to the numerous requests received for parent leadership training, the NAEAACLD will soon begin offering a free, online course for individuals interested in beginning advocacy or enhancing local efforts to help families with children who are struggling to learn. This high quality, culturally appropriate training for parent leaders will be presented in two parts and will include a questionnaire to determine level of competency and eligibility for a certificate of completion.
The requirements for participation are (1) a commitment to serve one's community, (2) a statement of interest and/or experience in working with communities, and (3) a willingness to become a member of the NAEAACLD's Parent Leadership Institute for the purpose of referring local families in need of information and support. All training materials will be provided by the NAEAACLD and ongoing support will be offered through the Parent Leadership Institute.
For more information about the online training and registration, please send an email inquiry to info@aacld.org. |
| Stimulus to Provide Major Increase in Special Education Funding |
| How will your state use these funds? Will you be a part of the process? |
| In the February 17 issue of the Wrightslaw Special Ed Advocate, Jessica Butler from the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) provided a Summary of the Stimulus Bill and IDEA Funding. She reported that overall, the bill will provide a major increase in special education funding, including $12.2 billion for IDEA. Acknowledging that "IDEA has long been woefully underfunded," Butler also revealed that "many parents of children with disabilities are facing constraints in the services they can provide for their children" due to the severe economic stress the country is now facing. She cited that even before the recession, two-thirds of children with disabilities lived in families that earned under $50,000 a year and that slightly more than one-third of children with disabilities lived in families earning lesss than $25,000 a year.
Butler cautioned that special education advocates in every state and school district should find out the process that will be used to award this new funding and how they can impact its spending. The funding is not simply additional block funding for school districts or block funding for school district job creation or preservation. The funds have been delineated to directly benefit children with disabilities by providing appropriate special education and related services, eqiupment, assistive technology, training for teachers, etc. Districts must continue to provide a free, appropriate public education for all children with disabilities. Special education advocates must use this opportunity to be a part of the process and have an impact! |
| Parents Helping Parents |
"Don't tell me you believe all children can learn; tell me what you do when they don't." Richard DuFour
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 Deborah Swayne Tidwell is an African American mother of two grown children but her years of parenting are not yet over. Observing how times have changed, she decided to share with young families in storybook form the knowledge she has gained after more than 30 years of parenting. She has written two books entitled the Magic Eraser and the Substitute Teacher and the Magic Eraser and Camp Real. The books teach valuable lessons about the meaning of self-confidence and discovering one's individual skills and talents. Both books are available for ordering online from Barnes & Noble and AuthorHouse. |
| Together We Can Make a Difference! |
| Visit our website and learn more about the history and activities of the NAEAACLD. Your comments and suggestions for improving our work will be very much appreciated. Your involvement will help to change the course of education in this country . . . if only one child at a time. |
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