There are over 7.5 million American children ages 3-21 who receive special education services, or 15% of all public school students. This constitutes a large number of children who require individualized support beyond the general education curriculum as determined by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). The pervasive special education teacher shortages are put into perspective when one considers all the individual students whose educational needs are affected.
Good news for enCORE users! We’ve just released an update to the enCORE Teacher-Led Technology Reports. Now, teacher-led technology reports identify lessons completed at 80% or higher as Mastered rather than as Pretest Passed. Additionally, each session is tagged as Administration rather than as Pretest or Posttest. This change makes it easier for teachers and administrators to demonstrate the progress students are making in teacher-led technology lessons, including when they have mastered skills.
We are pleased to announce the release of enCORE Extended School Year (ESY) 2024! ESY is a 4-week extended school year curriculum for K-12 students with moderate to severe disabilities. This year’s theme is Summer Around the World! Students will engage with rich content to learn about countries around the world.
Congratulations, teacher! You’ve worked hard all year long to hone your craft and deliver high-quality instruction to your students with disabilities. By now, you know them better than you could have imagined when the school year began last fall. You’ve built strong relationships and seen inspiring growth in their academic and personal goals. Now, you’re in the home stretch with summer vacation just around the corner. With all the hard work you’ve poured into this school year, let’s be sure to end well.
Let’s DIG into enCORE with brand new Daily Implementation Guides. Daily Implementation Guides (‘DIGs’) are daily planning resources for teachers who use enCORE. The DIGs make the daily planning process simpler and more supportive for teachers to implement enCORE as it was designed to be delivered – using both print- and technology-based lessons. We know it can take a while to learn the ropes when onboarding to a robust curriculum, and now teachers have the daily planning tools to get the most out of enCORE!
Ever heard of the “Sunday Scaries?” Often times, the Sunday Scaries are referenced on a Sunday night when Monday morning is quickly approaching. For many, this means wrapping up a weekend of relaxation and transitioning back into the 9-5 grind, or for students, it means heading back to a full week of school. Transitions in general can pose feelings of overwhelm, and that leap from high school to post-secondary life is certainly no different - especially for students with moderate to severe disabilities.
Technology has revolutionized the capabilities of special education software, providing unprecedented resources and opportunities to students with disabilities. From interactive software that breaks down academic concepts into chunks to communication tools designed specifically for those struggling in general education settings, advancements in special education technology are opening up a world of potential.
If you're responsible for choosing curriculum software for your special education program, you know it's a big decision. There are a lot of factors to consider, and it's important to find a program that will meet the unique needs of your students. Here are some things to look for as you evaluate special education curriculum software options.