E-News—Issue 6, Number 3

Welcome to the March 2003 issue of E-News!

E-News is designed to keep individuals informed of new developments in urban education and inclusive schooling practices in urban schools. In particular, E-News includes brief items of interest around the work of the National Institute and other organizations engaged in similar work, current research, upcoming conferences and events, new online and off-line products and resources, and other news happening in the field.

Features this month:

• Reauthorization of IDEA 2003: House Republicans introduce bill
• Event: IDEA Summit (June 19-21)
• Web Site of the Month: Government site gathers comments about disability research needs
• Legal Matters: Important ruling on LRE
• New Resource: Administrators' guide covers mediation benefits and concerns
• National Institute Help Desk
  

News Brief

REAUTHORIZATION OF IDEA 2003 — House Republicans introduce bill to reauthorize IDEA

On March 19, House Republicans introduced a bill to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Education Reform Subcommittee Chairman Mike Castle (R-DE) introduced H.R. 1350, "Improving Education Results for Children with Disabilities Act of 2003." The full House Education and the Workforce Committee said that the bill "calls for reforms to strengthen accountability and results for students, reduce the IDEA paperwork burden for teachers, provide greater flexibility for local school districts to improve early intervention strategies, reduce the number of children who are wrongly placed in special education classes, reduce litigation and restore trust between parents and school districts, and align IDEA with the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires schools and school districts to be accountable for providing a quality education to all students, including students with special needs." To read the complete press release, including a summary of the bill, go to: http://edworkforce.house.gov/press/press108/03mar/idea031903.htm

Coincidentally, Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) and House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) introduced the IDEA Parental Choice Act of 2003. To read the complete press release, visit http://edworkforce.house.gov/press/press108/03mar/demint032003.htm.

It appears that the Committee may want to move this bill through subcommittee and full committee prior to its April 18 recess. The Council for Exceptional Children and other Washington-based national education organizations are recommending that members of the House Committee be contacted asking them not to put reauthorization on the so-called "fast track." The fear is that parents and educators will not have adequate time to review the bill and provide input to Congress. For more information, go to http://www.cec.sped.org/pp/legislative_update/modules/news/article.php?storyid=13.

Events

IDEA Partnerships 2nd National Summit on the Shared Implementation of IDEA '97 June 19-21

The IDEA Partnerships invite you to attend the 2nd National Summit on the Shared Implementation of IDEA '97 June 19-21 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. The program will center around seven topical strands through which presenters will share information and resources:

• Linking school climate with improved outcomes for students with disabilities
• Family/school partnerships and relationships
• Disproportionality
• Students with disabilities in standards-based reform
• Personnel issues
• Research
• Emerging issues

Participants will have the opportunity to attend concurrent sessions designed to share information about the latest evidence-based research and practice; hear from thought-provoking keynote speakers who share information about issues, trends, and instructional strategies; leave with information, strategies, and resources that may improve your school, district, or personal knowledge; and participate in cross-stakeholder networking.

National Institute staff will hold a session on National Inclusive Schools Week related to the strand on school climate. Discussion will focus on ways in which the National Institute and session participants can work together to build inclusive practices and achieve the overall goals of National Inclusive Schools Week.

For more information about the summit or to register online, visit http://www.ideapractices.org/summit/index.php.

Web Site of the Month

New Web site gathers comments about disability research needs

The government's Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) has created a new Web site - http://www.icdr.us/ - to ensure that federal research efforts meet the needs of Americans who have disabilities. Upon opening the home page, the reader sees in bold letters, "Send your comments to the ICDR." Clicking this link takes the reader to a comment form where individuals may offer their ideas about access to technology, education, employment, community life, health care, and other issues. The site also includes information on the mission and goals of ICDR, President Bush's New Freedom Initiative to help persons with disabilities, links to other disability sites, and more.

Legal Matters

Sixth Circuit Court ruling on LRE

On February 24, the 6th Circuit Court ruled that the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) does not always mean that a child with a disability should attend his or her neighborhood school. The full text of this case is available at http://laws.lp.findlaw.com/6th/03a0060p.html.

New Resource

Considering Mediation for Special Education Disputes: A School Administrator's Perspective

The Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education has released a new publication for administrators titled "Considering Mediation for Special Education Disputes: A School Administrator's Perspective." This paper describes the advantages and disadvantages of mediation in order to help administrators make an informed decision about whether it is in the best interest of their school district, and ultimately the students they serve, to participate in mediation. The document is available at http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/administrators.cfm.

National Institute Support Desk

Previous issues of E-News can be viewed at: niusi.obiki.org/enews.htm.

For more information about the National Institute for Urban School Improvement, please feel free to contact us.