CEC Policy Insider

CEC Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week & Exceptional Children's Week; Enjoy a 20% Discount on CEC Products

Thank you teachers for all you do for children and youth, schools, and communities. And a special thank you to special education teachers! To honor teachers, CEC is offering 20% off of our books online through Saturday. Use the code TAW20 when checking out. Browse CEC publications now!

CEC initiated Exceptional Children's Week  (May 6-12) as a means to educate the public about children and youth with exceptionalities and garner support for special education. Since its inception, this week has served to spotlight the capabilities of children and youth with exceptionalities and the programs that support them in their communities.

CEC and NASDSE Host Webinar on Sequestration Budget Cuts: Last Call to Register!

The Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association for State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) are offering a free webinar for members which will discuss the upcoming effects of sequestration and what the two organizations are doing to fight these budget cuts. Sequestration is the name for the across the board budget cuts that will go into effect on January 2, 2013 and will mean an eight percent cut to all education programs.

White House Recognizes STEM Champions of Change; CEC Members Nominated

In conjunction with Teacher Appreciation Week and Exceptional Children Week (May 7-11), CEC was proud to have two members recognized for their work to ensure access to educational opportunities for children with disabilities in STEM fields.

This week, the White House honored Champions of Change for individuals with disabilities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at a ceremony held at the White House. The event included two panel discussions featuring the winners. The first focused on the inclusion of people with disabilities in STEM businesses and research opportunities, while the second focused on STEM education for children and youth with disabilities.

Provide Your Feedback On Teacher Evaluation!

Recently, national education reform efforts have focused on revising teacher evaluations to incorporate measures of student growth and provide more meaningful feedback about teacher performance. CEC wants to ensure that teacher evaluations accurately and meaningfully incorporate special education and gifted education teachers.

CEC will soon issue a position statement on teacher evaluation, but first we want your input.

We know your time is valuable, and we sincerely appreciate you taking a moment to share your opinions with us. Please complete the survey, by clicking here. Responses are due by Friday, June 1.

To better understand efforts currently occurring on this front check out our Background Brief on Teacher Evaluation. CEC has been working on this issue for years, and first issued evaluation recommendations in its CEC ESEA Recommendations, to read those click here.

Tell us what you think! Has your teacher evaluation changed? If so, how? CEC wants to know!

CEC's Policy Resources from 2012 Annual Convention Now Available Online

CEC's Policy Resources from the 2012 Annual Convention and Expo:

• Preconvention Workshop - Education Priorities of the President and the Congress: Implications for Policy and Special Educators
  In this broad ranging presentation, CEC’s Policy and Advocacy headquarters team analyzed education policies supported by the Administration and Congress over the last three years and discussed their effect on special/gifted education. The session also examined how the outcome of the November 2012 elections might impact special and gifted education in the future.
  • View the presentation from CEC’s Policy team.
• What’s Happening in Washington?
  Featured speakers, U.S. Congressman Jared Polis and Colorado State Senator Michael Johnston, spent much of their time engaging with the audience, sharing how federal and state policies are shifting to place a greater emphasis on teacher effectiveness and highlighting the importance of continued investment in education programs, particularly IDEA. Attendees were able to ask both elected officials questions about a variety of education issues, such as: linking teacher evaluations to student performance, how funding cuts are impacting students with disabilities, and the need to increase focus on students with gifts and talents.
  
  Also, during this session CEC’s Policy and Advocacy team gave an update on current issues in education policy and featured speakers Lynn Holdheide from the National Center for Comprehensive Teacher Quality and Kathy Christie from the Education Commission of the States.
  • View the presentation from CEC’s Policy team.
• Teacher Evaluation: CEC’s Town Hall
  CEC President Margaret J. McLaughlin hosted a Town Hall to receive input from participants as CEC crafts its Position on Teacher Evaluation. If you were unable to attend this Town Hall please let us know what is happening in your area and share your concerns by emailing pubpol@cec.sped.org.
  • View the presentation from CEC’s Policy team.
• IDEA Reauthorization: CEC’s Town Hall
  Participations in this Town Hall provided input to assist CEC in crafting recommendations for the upcoming reauthorization of IDEA. CEC would like to hear from all of its members regarding IDEA Reauthorization. If you were unable to attend this session, please complete a questionnaire.
  
• Twitter Town Hall
  During the 2012 Annual Convention & Expo, CEC’s Policy Team had the opportunity to host a Twitter Town Hall with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Alexa Posny. Secretary Duncan and Assistant Secretary Posny answered a variety of questions on subjects such as response to intervention, the Workforce Investment Act, funding for IDEA Part B grants, physical education inclusion for students with disabilities and access to technology.
  • If you were unable to catch the Town Hall, please view the archive and follow @CECAdvocacy on Twitter for more policy updates.

Additional Resources:

1. CEC’S Public Policy Packet from 2012 Annual Convention and Expo 
   A Public Policy Packet which compiles CEC’s most up-to-date policy resources.
2. Sequestration – Federal Budget
   One page flyer detailing the effects of the upcoming automatic cuts (known as sequestration) to education programs and actions you can take to prevent these cuts from becoming a reality.
3. CEC’s Policy Victories at a Glance
   CEC’s Policy Victories at a Glance, detailing recent the policy actions and successes of CEC and its members.