Curriculum & Instruction

• Cut-score changes for gifted education recommended in Calif. district
  School district officials in Santa Barbara, Calif., last week heard a suggestion from the district's gifted-education coordinator to lower cut scores for placing students who are learning English in gifted education. Harriet Whaley's suggestion was based on studies showing that students who are learning English may have lower scores on selection tests because of language skills. Under the proposed scenario, the district could decide to place 29 more students who are English-language learners in the program, increasing the overall percentage of participating students who are English-language learners to 26% from 2%. Santa Barbara Independent (Calif.) (1/24)     

• Collaboration helps N.J. teachers provide reading interventions
  A partnership between Teaneck Public Schools and Fairleigh Dickenson University in New Jersey has teachers using techniques designed to instruct students with dyslexia to provide one-on-one reading instruction to second- and third-graders. The teachers are enrolled in the university's graduate school and learn the Orton Gillingham approach to reading instruction, which includes instructing students in the sounds and symbols of language as well as the use of sensory techniques such as having students trace letters with their finger. NorthJersey.com (Hackensack, N.J.) (free registration)/Teaneck Suburbanite (1/23)     

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Educational Leadership

• Are too many elementary-school teachers entering the field?
  Recent data show that teaching colleges are producing more elementary-school teachers than there are available jobs. The issue is complex, observers say, and solutions difficult. "If you increase the number of elementary teachers beyond what the market will bear, you are going to be forcing far too many trainees into an overburdened K-12 system," said Arthur McKee, managing director of teacher-preparation studies at the National Council on Teacher Quality. "We need to have some equilibrium so we can set up strong clinical programs. And everybody wants to do that," he added. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (1/23)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by CEC SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Are computer-based reading interventions effective? (Education Week)

• Colo. school focuses on personalized, intensive interventions (Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.))

• N.Y. district moves self-contained classes to neighborhood schools (Patch.com)

• Calif. students with autism benefit from highly structured program (The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.))

• Md. education leaders focus on "rehabilitative" discipline (The Washington Post)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Technology Trends

• Emergency-broadcast receiver planned for individuals who are deaf
  NPR Labs is working on a radio receiver that can alert individuals who are deaf to emergency messages transmitted by radio stations. The device would include a large text display to relay information as well as bright flashing lights to alert users to an incoming message. Radio World (1/25)     

Policy News

• Calif. district aims to reduce racial disparities in special education
  Pittsburg Unified School District in California is considering a plan to offer extra counseling and academic support to students who are struggling academically. The proposal is part of a corrective action plan meant to address a disproportionate percentage of students who are black in special education, particularly in a program for students who have emotional challenges. State data show that half of the students enrolled in a special-education program for students with emotional problems are black, while students who are black make up only 24% of the district's overall enrollment. Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.) (1/26)     

• Other News

• More psychiatrists reportedly needed to address children's mental health
  Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine) (1/26)     

Eye on Exceptionalities

• ADHD drug-related ED visits remain unchanged for children, teens
  A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report found that the number of emergency department visits related to the use of stimulant drugs for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder more than doubled between 2005 and 2010, from 13,379 to 31,244. Rates of ED visits among patients younger than 18 were relatively stable, while visits increased for patients ages 18 and older. Nurse.com (1/24), HealthDay News (1/25)     

• Other News

• Mardi Gras event held for individuals with disabilities
  The Advertiser (Lafayette, La.) (1/27)     

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CEC Spotlight

• Registration now open for the CEC 2013 Convention & Expo
  Join us April 3-6, 2013, in San Antonio for the CEC 2013 Convention & Expo, the largest professional-development event dedicated to special and gifted education. Educators from around the world will discuss the most pressing issues in special and gifted education and share information in areas such as common core state standards, autism spectrum disorders, policy, technology and response to intervention. Register today!     

• Connect with CEC on Facebook and Twitter
  Thousands of CEC fans are connecting on Facebook and Twitter to discuss intervention tactics, the upcoming CEC 2013 Convention and Expo, and, of course, best practices in special education. Like CEC on Facebook and follow us @CECmembership on Twitter. For the latest in education policy, follow @CECadvocacy.     

Position Title Company Name Location Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Services Greenville County Schools Greenville, SC Assistant Professor of Special Education UW - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI Director of Learning Support Rockdale County Public Schools Conyers, GA $125,000 Salary for Special Education Teacher TEP Charter School New York, NY Asst/Assoc/Full Professor of Biological, Behavioral Communication or Learning University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE Assistant Director, Student Services, Academic Services Government of Bermuda Nationwide, Bermuda Assistant Professor in Special Education College of Education, Florida State University US - FL - Tallahassee Director of Research and Professional Development Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs QAT - Nationwide

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SmartQuote

If fate means you to lose, give him a good fight anyhow." --William McFee, British-American writer