As we continue to navigate the realm of heightened staff shortages, special education departments today look slightly different than they did a decade ago. If you were to ask a Special Education Director who makes up their team, they would likely reply that it hosts a mix of teachers who are fresh out of college, or who have transitioned from general education or an inclusion classroom into a self-contained setting. To the surprise of many, a Special Education Director may even tell you that some of their special educators are teaching while still working through the formal certification process at night. This guide is designed to help new-to-the-field special educators define best practices for writing effective IEP goals that will drive students down a path of academic and personal success.
Have you ever applied for a job and noticed that the application you were filling out had an Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) disclaimer listed? That’s there because employers are required by law to notify applicants that they don’t (and legally can’t!) discriminate based on certain things, like disabilities. Similarly, as the EOE law is in place to protect workers, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has been established to protect the rights of special education students.
Today, schools are faced with heightened challenges brought on by special education teachers and related service providers leaving the profession at faster rates than new hires are entering it. Staff shortages can lead to disruptions in learning for students, and it's essential to find ways to support and retain the teachers who make a difference in their lives. Let’s talk about some strategies that can help to offset the burdens fueled by staff shortages, from professional development and mentorship to higher pay and providing high-quality curriculum resources.
TeachTown, a leading provider of special education curriculum for students with moderate to severe disabilities, is pleased to announce that its K-12 standards-based, adapted core curriculum, enCORE, has been named a finalist in 2 categories of the EdTech Cool Tool Awards 2023: Adaptive Technology Solution and Curriculum and Instruction. enCORE is firmly rooted in evidence-based practices that have shown to be effective for students with moderate to severe disabilities, including the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and systematic, explicit instruction.
Think about your everyday life as an adult involved in your community. What do you do? What skills do you need to have to go, for example, grocery shopping? Or to a restaurant? For students with disabilities, life skills – the skills needed to manage selfcare, are correlated to improved education, employment and independent living outcomes.
It goes without saying that learning safety skills is important for everyone, but it’s critical for students with moderate to severe disabilities. If these skills are not taught directly and systematically, they often will not be learned naturally. Let’s tap into key safety skills that can be taught in the classroom and practiced in natural environments, as well as how you can teach them effectively.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities have the right to receive a free and appropriate public education. This means that all students will receive the same academic opportunities as their typically developing peers. As a special educator, you recognize that academic progress for your students with moderate to severe disabilities is important, but you also know it’s not the full picture. Supporting prosocial, adaptive, and functional skills, among others, is key in helping your students reach their full potential and live as independently as possible one day.
TeachTown announces today a statewide partnership with the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) through PA Instructional Media Services (PAIMS). As part of PAIU, PAIMS strives to develop, maintain and deliver high-quality partnerships for schools and intermediate units. Through this collaboration, PA districts that elect to purchase TeachTown’s special education solutions will receive discounted and incentivized pricing.
This pillar report presents an overview of special education funding that is meant to serve as a guidepost for special education administrators who are new to decision-making and budgeting processes within their districts or LEAs.
As a special educator on the frontlines of student growth and development, you understand that academic progress is important, but you know it’s not the full picture. Adaptive, vocational, social, behavioral and cognitive skills, along with physical and emotional well-being, all play a critical role in supporting a whole child approach that helps your students reach their full potential. In this blog, we’ll break down the ins and outs of the whole child approach, and how it impacts your students with moderate to severe disabilities.