Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, October 9, 2020

Teacher Tom: The Freedom to Be That Change

 Teacher Tom: The Freedom to Be That Change 

The Freedom to Be That Change 



Most of us want to raise children who are ethical and caring. Indeed, when surveyed 96 percent of us say that this is a "very important, if not essential" parenting goal. I've not seen the numbers for teachers, but I would assume that a super majority of us feel likewise. If nothing else, we want the future to be populated with adults of character and we believe it begins with us, the adults responsible for the rearing and education of children.

Unfortunately, to the degree that we are responsible for this laudable result, a full 80 percent of youth surveyed say that they are more concerned with "achievement" or "happiness" than with caring for others. Not only that, but eight in 10 also say that their parents and teachers feel the same way. And to put the cherry on this ugly cake, teachers, by the same percentage, perceive that the parents of their students value achievement over moral character. In other words, we are, as parents and educators, quite consistently sending our children a message we don't want to be sending.

Ironically, most research also shows that lack of caring for others leads to humans being less successful and less happy.

We are living in a time in which one if five children are suffering from a diagnosable mental illness. Our schools have become increasingly academic, where our children are being CONTINUE READING:  Teacher Tom: The Freedom to Be That Change 




Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting ACSE Agenda October 21, 2020 - Administration & Support (CA Dept of Education)

 Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting

Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting

ACSE Agenda October 21, 2020

Important Notice

Please note, the October 2020 Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting will be held as a teleconference; Room 1101 (board room) will be closed to the public. See ACSE Meeting Logistics section below for options to view and participate in the meeting.

Advisory Commission on Special Education Members

  • David M. Toston, Chair
    Havaughnia Hayes-White, Vice Chair
    Michele Andrus
    Dawn Hamilton
    Somer Harding
    Sara Jocham
    April Lopez
    Christina Mills
    Christine Oyakawa
    Gina Plate
    Kimberly Salomonson
    Jeannine Topalian
    Steven Winlock

Student Member

  • Mike Infante

Legislative Members

  • Honorable Richard Pan, Senate
  • Honorable Jim Frazier, Assembly

State Board of Education Liaison

  • Ilene Straus, State Board Member

Executive Secretary

  • Heather Calomese, Director, Special Education Division
    California Department of Education

All times are approximate and are provided for convenience only. Items may be re-ordered to be heard on any day of the noticed meeting or on a subsequent agenda. The order of business may be changed without notice. Every effort will be made to webcast this meeting in its entirety, but some portions may not be webcast due to logistical constraints.

Reasonable Accommodation for Any Individual with a Disability

Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in a meeting or function of the ACSE, may request assistance by contacting the California Department of Education (CDE) Special Education Division (SED), 1430 N Street, Suite 2401, Sacramento, CA 95814; telephone: 916-445-4602; fax: 916-327-3706.

Advisory Commission on Special Education

Meeting ScheduleMeeting Location
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Pacific Time ±
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101, Sacramento, CA
Phone: 916-445-4602 

ACSE Meeting Logistics

On March 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20 related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Order allows state bodies covered by the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Act) to hold public meetings covered by the Act via web and/or audio teleconferencing. As such, the June ACSE meeting will be held as an audio/video teleconference and will have a live webcast; Room 1101 (board room) in the California Department of Education will be closed to the public. Please see the Public Comment Guidelines section below for options to view and participate in the meeting.

Public Comment Guidelines

Public comment may be via email or phone, as specified below.

Email

The public is highly encouraged to submit written comment to the ACSE members in advance for prior consideration. In order to help ensure that commissioners have time to review the comments, please submit comments by noon on Friday, October 16, 2020. However, comments received after that time will be forwarded to Commission members until the day of the meeting. Comments should be submitted to the ACSE mailbox at: ACSE@cde.ca.gov. The following information should be included in the body of the email: (1) commenter’s first and last name, (2) organization affiliation, (3) agenda item number or general public comment.

Phone

Public comment may also be provided by dialing the phone number and participant access code that will be provided on October 21, 2020, and then following the operator’s prompts. Upon dialing in, callers will be added to a caller queue. The operator will notify callers when it is their turn to provide public comment. Public comment will be limited to one minute for each agenda item unless otherwise specified by the ACSE. Members of the public wishing to dial in for public comment should view the live-stream of the meeting. The number and access code will be provided at the start of public comment for each item.

Prior to making public comment, speakers who are watching the meeting via live webcast should make sure the volume on their computer is muted to avoid echoing or feedback sounds during the call.

Agenda Item Materials

Agenda item materials, including presentation materials, are available by sending a request for copies to ACSE@cde.ca.gov.

Advisory Commission on Special Education Operations and Planning Committee

Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 9–9:45 a.m. Pacific Time
California Department of Education
Sacramento, California

Members of the ACSE Operations and Planning Committee will meet prior to the start of the ACSE meeting to discuss the operations of the ACSE for fiscal year 2020–21 and a timeline for the yearly ACSE activities.

  • Grazer Outstanding Achievement in Learning (GOAL) award
  • Election Committee


Advisory Commission on Special Education

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 10 a.m. Pacific Time
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California

10–10:15 a.m. Pacific Time ±

  • Call to Order–Roll Call
  • Salute to the Flag
  • Welcome New Members
  • Communications and Announcements
  • Review of Agenda
  • Review of How to Provide Public Comment

10:15–10:45 a.m.

Item 1–State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report: Staff from the CDE, Special Education Division (SED), will provide an update on the State Performance Plan and the Annual Performance Report. Presenter: Shiyloh Becerril, Interim Associate Director, CDE, SED. (Item type: Information, discussion)

10:45–11:45 a.m.

Item 2–An Update on the California System of Support: California Center for Educator Excellence (CCEE) and Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) leads will update the commission on the activities of the California System of Support, how they are currently supporting California school districts and their plans for the 2020–21 school year. Presenters: Karla Estrada, Deputy Executive Director, Systems Improvement and Innovation, CCEE; Ann England, Marin County SELPA; Dr. Deborah Montoya, Imperial County SELPA; Jill King, Placer County SELPA; Patricia L. Schetter, University of California, Davis. (Item type: Information, discussion)

11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Item 3–Inclusive Practices in Distance Learning: Kristin Brooks and Kevin Schaefer from Supporting Inclusive Practices will highlight model inclusive practices during the pandemic as well as the opportunities to address long term barriers to inclusion. Presenters: Kristin Brooks, Executive Director, Supporting Inclusive Practices, Riverside County Office of Education; Kevin Schaefer, Director of Equity and Inclusive Practices, Supporting Inclusive Practices, El Dorado County SELPA/Charter SELPA. (Item type: Information, discussion)

12:30–1 p.m. Lunch

1–1:45 p.m.

Item 4–State Literacy Plan: Staff from the CDE, Educator Excellence and Equity Division (EEED), will review the proposed State Literacy Plan that is to be presented to the State Board of Education in November. Presenters: Aileen Allison-Zarea, Education Administrator 1, CDE, EEED; Erika St. Andre, Education Programs Consultant, CDE, EEED. (Item type: Information, discussion, action)

Background Materials are available on the CDE Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant web page

1:45–2:30 p.m.

Item 5–State Special Schools: The Director from the CDE, State Special Schools (SSS), will update the commission on the SSS, and how they are approaching instruction due to COVID 19. Presenter: Robin L. Zane, Director, SSS, CDE. (Item type: Information, discussion)

2:30–2:45 p.m. Break

2:45–3 p.m.

Item 6–Commissioner Updates and Liaison Reports: Updates from ACSE Commissioners and Reports from ACSE Liaisons will be provided. (Item type: Information, discussion)

3–3:30 p.m.

Item 7–California Special Education Funding Report: Jason Willis and Sara Menlove Doutre from WestEd, will review the information and findings in the recently released report on the California special education funding system. Presenters: Jason Willis, WestEd; Sara Menlove Doutre, WestEd. (Item type: Information, discussion, action)

Background materials are available at the WestEd websiteExternal link opens in new window or tab.

3:30–3:45 p.m.

Item 8–State Special Education Director’s Report: The Director from the CDE, SED will provide an update on the activities of the Division. Presenter: Heather Calomese, Director, CDE, SED. (Item type: Information, discussion)

3:45–4 p.m.

Item 9–Commissioner Recognition: The Commission will recognize the work of the previous Chair, Somer Harding. (Item type: Information, discussion)

4–4:15 p.m.

Item 10–Agenda Building for ACSE Meetings: Commissioners will recommend items to be included on future ACSE meeting agendas. (Item type: Information, discussion)

4:15–4:30 p.m.

Item 11–General Public Comment: General public comment is invited on any matter, including items not on the agenda. The ACSE is precluded from discussing matters not on the agenda; however, questions may be asked by Commissioners for clarification purposes. Issues raised by the public may be referred to a future meeting agenda. Chair reserves the right to establish time limits on presentations. (Item type: Information)

4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment of meeting.

Questions: Special Education Division | ACSE@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-4602 

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007


A VERY BUSY DAY
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...
The latest news and resources in education since 2007
 
 

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/10/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos.html


Enrollment In Some Districts Is Going Down – Should We Be Worried?
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New NPR Video: “4 Tips To Help You Prepare For A National Disaster During A Pandemic”
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Good Advice From Soccer Star Abby Wambach On How To Support Young People
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Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007