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CEC's Policy Insider is your connection to special & gifted
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CEC Weighs in on
National Discussion about Use of Restraints and Seclusion
On Tuesday, the House Committee on Education
and Labor held a hearing about the use of restraints and seclusion in
public schools. Witnesses included two parents of children who had
been harmed by improper use of restraints, the Director of Special
Education for the Illinois State Board of Education, who discussed the
state's implementation of positive behavioral supports, CEC/CCBD member,
Dr. Reece Peterson of the University of Nebraska, and a representative
from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), who reported on an
investigation it conducted at the request of Committee Chairman George
Miller (D-CA).
The GAO report included detailed disturbing information about
thirteen incidents nationwide where students were harmed or killed
by the improper use of restraints and seclusion in public schools. Dr.
Peterson testified about CCBD's extensive research and recent position
statements on the use of restraint and seclusion and emphasized that restraints should be used
"rarely in school settings . . . [only] when there is immediate danger
of physical injury to someone." Moreover, he advocated for school-wide
positive behavior supports and other evidence-based practices. Read CCBD's position summary on
restraint and seclusion procedures in schools.
Dr. Reece L. Peterson, a CEC/CCBD member meets
with Representative George Miller, Chairman of the
House Education and Labor Committee after
the Tuesday's hearing
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of
Education Arne Duncan expressed his grave concern about the information
revealed in the hearing, and asked all Chief State School Officers to
develop and present him their plans to prevent these incidents before
the start of the next school year.
This hearing sparked a much needed national discussion on the use of
restraints and seclusion. CEC's Associate Executive Director,
Deborah Ziegler, contributed to this by speaking with NPR, CBS News, and The Washington Post
about the appropriate use of restraints and
seclusion in schools, and ways to properly manage and prevent
challenging behaviors. CEC, along with representatives from its
divisions CCBD and CASE, will join other leaders in the field to discuss
this issue with the Obama Administration at the White House next
Tuesday. CEC looks forward to continuing to work with its
divisions and the community at large on this important topic.
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Secretary Duncan
Testifies Before Congress; Dodges Questions about
IDEA
On Wednesday, the U.S.
Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, testified about President Obama's
plan for American education before the House Education and Labor
Committee. Duncan focused on how he will build on the reform agenda
outlined in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and specifically
said he aims to turn around 1,000 low-performing schools a year for the
next five years.
In response to aggressive questioning from Rep. John Kline (R-MN) about
why the budget level funds IDEA instead of committing to fully funding
it, Duncan cited the Administration's support for the massive infusion
of funds IDEA received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) and stated school districts would continue use and receive ARRA
funds throughout fiscal year 2010.
Duncan emphasized the importance of expanding and enhancing early
childhood education and asked Congress to fund programs like the Early
Learning Challenge Fund. Finally, he discussed the need to develop
better strategies to train and retain effective teachers and cited the
Administration's proposed increase for the Teacher Incentive Fund as an
example of one way to accomplish this goal.
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CEF Criticizes Obama
Administration's Proposed Freeze of IDEA Funding
This
week, CEF released its Budget Response to the President's proposed Fiscal Year 2010
budget and briefed Hill staff on the specifics. CEC
attended the briefing supports CEF's strong statements about the need to
fully fund IDEA. CEC is a long standing member of the Committee
for Education Funding (CEF), which comprises 80 organizations dedicated
to the goal of achieving adequate federal financial support for
education at all levels.
At the briefing, CEF criticized the Administration's proposed funding
freeze on several important programs, including IDEA, by pointing out
that a freeze will inhibit programs from adequately handling costs of
inflation and rising enrollment. With regard to IDEA, it also pointed
out that the budget, "continues the unfortunate trend of failing to
provide the promised funds for IDEA or even propos[ing] a timeline for
full funding." CEC has historically fought for full funding of all
portions of IDEA, and will fervently oppose the proposed level funding
as the appropriations process moves forward. Stay tuned to CEC's website
for regular updates about the FY 2010 appropriations process.
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Update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA): U.S. Department of Education Approves ARRA Funds for Three More
States
The Department approved
three more state applications for Phase 1 State Fiscal Stabilization
Funds, funds released as a part of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA or economic stimulus). In a series of press
releases, the Department stated that Indiana, Rhode Island, and
Tennessee "can now utilize these funds to save jobs and lay the
groundwork for a generation of education reform."
Quick State By State
Roundup
-Indiana will receive $765 million Phase 1 ARRA funds
and will be eligible to apply for another $242 million more before
September 30, 2009 for Phase 2.
-Rhode Island will receive $111 million through Phase 1 ARRA funds and
will be eligible to apply for another $54 million more before September
30, 2009 for Phase 2.
-Tennessee will receive $635 million Phase 1 ARRA funds and will be
eligible to apply for another $313 million more before September 30,
2009 for Phase 2.
Read the full Department Press
Releases.
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Key Individuals Appointed
to Department of Education and White House Positions
U.S.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that Joanne Weiss will lead
the development of the "Race to the Top" Fund included in the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The fund is meant to encourage states and
local school districts to implement innovative education reform to spur
improved student success. Weiss previously worked for the NewSchools
Venture Fund, a national nonprofit venture philanthropy firm.
Read the Department of Education press
release.
President Obama announced his intent to nominate
Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana to be the U.S. Department of Education's
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education. Melendez de Santa Ana currently serves as the Pomona
(California) Unified School District Superintendent.
Read the White House's Press
Release.
CEC looks forward to working with both Joanne Weiss and Thelma Melendez
de Santa Ana on behalf of children and youth with exceptionalities.
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Insider is a publication of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
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