Stories tagged: SPECIAL ED
Special ed focus at Monday SRC meeting
Submitted by Paul Socolar on Mon, 10/15/2012 - 17:41 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
[Updated, 9 p.m.] The School Reform Commission devoted its monthly strategy meeting Monday from 6-8 pm to the topic of special education. The agenda included both District officials and special education advocates, with a staff presentation on the state of special education in the District.
State 'opportunity scholarships' for private schools not likely to kick in this year
Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 08/21/2012 - 13:04 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
By Bill Hangley, Jr.
A new state scholarship program can benefit Philadelphia students who live near struggling schools, but it isn’t likely to have a big impact in the coming school year.
Program officials and local scholarship organizations say that they hope that by this time next year, the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) will be running as smoothly as a similar, more broad-based program, the Educational Investment Tax Credit (EITC) program.
“We’re sort of stuck in the weeds right now, but hopefully in a year, things will smooth out,” said Ida Lipman of the Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia.
Navigating the digital world
by Wendy Harris Posted in April 2012 Edition | Permalink
As a result of the big changes underway in the School District, teachers will soon be given more freedom to be creative. As part of our April print edition, the Notebook and NewsWorks took a multimedia look inside the classrooms of five exemplary Philadelphia teachers to get an on-the-ground perspectives of the great teaching and learning that is possible.
South Philadelphia senior Marcus Johnson stands at the front of his classroom eager to give his presentation on mammals. But there are no poster board cutouts here, no sketches across a blackboard, no pages borrowed from an animal encyclopedia. Johnson, with his back to a class that has iMacs and iPads, works the keys on his laptop computer with the focus of an engineer in a computer lab. After a few clicks, he turns to face his peers, and the website he designed – which gives vivid images and rich content about the animals he loves so much – fills the interactive projector at the front of the room.
Video: Kimberly Paynter for WHYY/NewsWorks
Engaging her students
by Wendy Harris, photos by Harvey Finkle Posted in April 2012 Edition | Permalink
In Michele McKeone's autistic support classroom at South Philadelphia High School, students develop their communication skills and the abilities necessary for their transition to independence. McKeone, in her fourth year of teaching at Southern, uses digital media to keep the students engaged, as well as plugged in to what's relevant today. The Notebook talked with her about some of the exciting projects that students have created using digital media.
District's facilities planning process raises concerns on survival of special ed programs
by Notebook staff Posted in February 2011 Edition | Permalink
In a January presentation to the School Reform Commission, District officials introduced their plans to "right-size" the many half-empty, aging facilities but offered no specifics on how closures and consolidations could impact special education services, especially those for severely disabled students.
District finds special ed teachers scarce, so it keeps tapping Teach for America corps
by Patrick Gailey Posted in December 2010 Edition | Permalink
More than one in five of all Teach for America corps members in Philadelphia schools this year – 46 out of 213 – are in special education classrooms. By definition, these teachers are inexperienced and have received minimal training – seven to eight weeks over the summer.
Is this good for special education instruction?
EduCon 2.2 This Weekend
Submitted by Molly Thacker on Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:44 Posted in Class notes | Permalink
I can't think of a better - or more necessary - time than late January to generate discussion, ideas, creativity, collaboration, and energy around issues of education. Which is I am so looking forward to attending the EduCon 2.2 conference this weekend hosted by Science Leadership Academy.
Check back after the weekend for a recap of events and to continue the conversation!
Note: The event is sold out, but there is a wait list and an option to "attend digitally."
An unlikely partnership helps families get needed social services for kids
by Dennis Barnebey Posted in Winter 2009 Edition | Permalink
“Innovation” is a term not often associated with large systems such as the School District of Philadelphia or the city’s Department of Human Services (DHS). Nevertheless, for the past 10 years, these two systems, with similar missions but separate funding streams, have maintained a partnership to help children overcome barriers to learning.
Q & A: How young children with disabilities can access free Early Intervention services
Posted in Fall 2009 Edition | Permalink
Is my child eligible for Early Intervention services?
Children under age three (“infants and toddlers”) are entitled to Early Intervention services if they have a “developmental delay” in one or more of these areas: cognitive (thinking), communication, physical (including vision and hearing), social/emotional, or self-care, or if they have a physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay.
For special ed and ELL students, choice is often lacking
by Connie Langland Posted in Fall Guide 2009 Edition | Permalink
Aspiring to attend one of the city’s top-tier high schools can be a daunting proposition for students with special needs or English language learners (ELLs) and their parents.
Few of this fall’s incoming 9th graders who are special education or ELL students applied to the sought-after schools, and even fewer were admitted.
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