tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.comments2023-09-09T07:37:47.762-04:00Education Lessons From A Sparkly DistrictJulie Borsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15205661029847875010noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-83731923848818422062017-02-17T14:30:22.023-05:002017-02-17T14:30:22.023-05:00Hello from Arizona. Was surprised by this post on ...Hello from Arizona. Was surprised by this post on SB 1317 as I am the President-Elect of the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) and wasn't aware it was a problem. When I looked into it, I found that is because our association supports the legislation. <br /><br />Don't get me wrong, our Legislature is not public (district) education friendly and they do propose some crazy stuff. ASBA supports this bill though because it allows the district the ability to use its existing resources to best meet the needs of students wit special needs. <br /><br />It’s first important to understand the student’s IEP Team is required to agree that a non-SPED certified provider is the best provider for the student. The IEP team includes the student’s certified special education teacher and the student’s parents. We are not talking about letting districts randomly reassign students to non-SPED teachers at will.<br /> <br />Here is a very pertinent example: An elementary student’s IEP may call for differentiated or specialized reading instruction. The school may have a fully certified reading coach, who is an expert in reading instruction, but does not hold a SPED endorsement, only a standard certificate with a reading endorsement. The student’s SPED teacher is of course fully capable of teaching a student reading, but may agree a reading coach with specialization would be better. This would free up said SPED teacher to provide other specialized instruction to students that no one else can provide. Under the current interpretation by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), the reading specialist is not allowed to teach that student because anyone who provides instruction is required to have a SPED certificate.<br /> <br />All the bill does is allow the IEP team to use other certified educators to provide specialized instruction if they deem it appropriate.<br /> <br />I believe the portion of the IDEA policy that Ms. Borst references deals with people who are employed AS special education teachers. In our example, the reading specialist is NOT employed as a special education teacher. They are a reading specialist providing reading instruction to a student. No non-SPED teacher can take over primary responsibility for directing the instruction of a student with special needs. IDEA won’t allow that, and no one intends to do that.<br /> <br />Arizona has a critical teacher shortage (53% of our teacher positions are unfilled or filled by uncertified personnel) and special education teachers are harder to find than most. A big part of the reason for that is the fact that they are the lowest paid in the nation and we public (district) education advocates fight that situation (and plenty of other inequities in education) hard every single day. Even if not all of our state legislators are on-board, we definitely have the wellbeing of all our students (including those with disabilities) at the forefront of our fight and agree that our children deserve no less.<br /> <br />Finally, I believe it is important to note that literally no one signed up in opposition, the AZ Council for Exceptional Children supports the bill, and it received a remarkable unanimous vote (from Republicans and Democrats) on the AZ Senate Third Reading. Although some SPED advocates may be wary of the bill, we believe it will actually result in better outcomes for some students and that is really what is important.Linda Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12928993198529388797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-77881618238086407342017-02-08T00:53:13.411-05:002017-02-08T00:53:13.411-05:00whos badge for organize is that. I would like to ...whos badge for organize is that. I would like to get many of themAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11911377346159808324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-36757801516612607332017-02-07T21:11:01.403-05:002017-02-07T21:11:01.403-05:00Done. https://elfasd.blogspot.com/2016/12/my-favor...Done. https://elfasd.blogspot.com/2016/12/my-favorite-bloggers.htmlJulie Borsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15205661029847875010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-56572175611126872632017-02-07T20:19:49.677-05:002017-02-07T20:19:49.677-05:00The mobile view doesn't seem to show your side...The mobile view doesn't seem to show your sidebar content. Maybe add it as a post dated before the one on here so it comes after it like the side bar should. Kassy Killeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14617587160273490308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-42128501465882659512017-02-07T18:46:31.595-05:002017-02-07T18:46:31.595-05:00One thing all of us who are concerned about the ou...One thing all of us who are concerned about the outrages happening now, such as confirmation of such an unqualified person as Devos under Trump, is participating in the General Nationwide Strike on Feb 17th. https://www.facebook.com/events/1756631744665376/?ti=clcollinkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725791060013977596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-40124566797192111592017-01-03T18:15:30.553-05:002017-01-03T18:15:30.553-05:00That is the plan.That is the plan.Julie Borsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15205661029847875010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-12322930407324195702017-01-01T23:13:03.873-05:002017-01-01T23:13:03.873-05:00Outstanding blogpost and eyeopening.I hope you pla...Outstanding blogpost and eyeopening.I hope you plan on using some of this information on Wednesday at the NJBOE meeting. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05445698207150347030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-38686541375135978982017-01-01T18:57:46.406-05:002017-01-01T18:57:46.406-05:00Clearly this man has already made up his mind abou...Clearly this man has already made up his mind about the "miracle" of charter schools.<br /><br />And yet, I'm supposed to believe he's listening with an open mind this week when a hundred people deliver public testimony? <br /><br />This is shamefully bad governance. The State BOE is supposed to be an independent board that listens to the public, not a group of rubber stampers with vested interests.Sue Altmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273826930609462012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-34584523844557456932017-01-01T17:33:05.815-05:002017-01-01T17:33:05.815-05:00Follow the money! Great investigating piece! Follow the money! Great investigating piece! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10685408446084686714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-2730556259335974882017-01-01T15:53:48.928-05:002017-01-01T15:53:48.928-05:00The truly scary reality behind privatizing "p...The truly scary reality behind privatizing "public" (local) schools: "Bottom line for charter schools in New Jersey: No local control at all."ciedie aechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00443601825150518035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-77217067326774068912016-11-29T20:23:16.951-05:002016-11-29T20:23:16.951-05:00What an amazing piece. You are spot on in so many ...What an amazing piece. You are spot on in so many aspects. The suspension deal you mentioned, wow....you are 100%. As long as parents keep fighting for their kids, so will this teacher.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05445698207150347030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-76159502616431776312016-11-29T19:35:09.203-05:002016-11-29T19:35:09.203-05:00This will be devastating to the students and their...This will be devastating to the students and their future possibilities. I am sick about this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17038791253611246991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-73725065662001035412016-11-15T11:24:56.232-05:002016-11-15T11:24:56.232-05:00Very helpful insight. I particularly appreciate t...Very helpful insight. I particularly appreciate the cringe-inducing symmetry of the SBOE and the talk in NYC: in the first, an old, rich, white man (Cerf) telling everyone what it takes to get out of urban poverty; in the second, a, old, rich white man (Finn) using his body language to disrespect a well-educated, qualified, female black scholar. So it goes. A lot of work ahead, indeed. <br /><br />Thanks for getting that work started today, Julie. Sue Altmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273826930609462012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-50040581804630067852016-08-28T20:10:48.544-04:002016-08-28T20:10:48.544-04:00Yes. Exactly. On the one hand, not surprising in t...Yes. Exactly. On the one hand, not surprising in the least given this NJDOE. On the other hand, disappointing NJDOE didn't even bother to attempt something close to what was originally intended. <br />Julie Borsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15205661029847875010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-25197186562328556472016-08-28T20:05:11.367-04:002016-08-28T20:05:11.367-04:00MAY? MAY? Then again maybe not. This ombudsmen wi...MAY? MAY? Then again maybe not. This ombudsmen will work primarily with school districts? They will offer me "information"? I can and have read the law. They will offer me "communication strategies"? I don't need dto be told how to talk to child study, I need them to read and follow the law, and I need help forcing them to do so without bankrupting my family with lawyers fees! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04996620109892561477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-27951539024847164922016-08-25T17:46:44.491-04:002016-08-25T17:46:44.491-04:00Thank you, Joan. My state, NJ, is one of them and ...Thank you, Joan. My state, NJ, is one of them and our state legislators are trying to pass a "loan" bill to help pay for an expanded pre-k initiative. Scary stuff that doesn't have nearly enough light shining on it. Julie Borsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15205661029847875010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-66232233505976475582016-08-25T17:39:03.754-04:002016-08-25T17:39:03.754-04:00Oops here's the link to DoEd grant awards
http...Oops here's the link to DoEd grant awards<br />https://pdg.grads360.org/#program/grantee-profiles<br />jcghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125479155068030956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-61346987560448299452016-08-25T17:38:35.768-04:002016-08-25T17:38:35.768-04:0018 states have already received either a start up ...18 states have already received either a start up or a continuing grant from DOEd to expand PreK. DoEd is laying the groundwork for generations of paying the banks for successfuly cutting costs in special education. jcghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125479155068030956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-2892968773062487102016-08-04T08:02:00.993-04:002016-08-04T08:02:00.993-04:00Stella is right. Board members are appointed by th...Stella is right. Board members are appointed by the governor, as is the Commissioner. This is something we need our legislature to change. Way to much control in the governor's hands.Julie Borsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15205661029847875010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-52521352925756792992016-08-03T22:59:34.464-04:002016-08-03T22:59:34.464-04:00That's just it! They're not voted in-- the...That's just it! They're not voted in-- they are appointed by the governor. The same gov that appoints the head of the DOE. There are NO checks and balances in state level education in NJ. That too must change!Sue Altmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273826930609462012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-68356262536051680812016-08-03T22:36:08.765-04:002016-08-03T22:36:08.765-04:00How do we get those folks voted out of office?
How do we get those folks voted out of office? <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918220666269138751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-82727685810837007602016-07-29T13:51:41.019-04:002016-07-29T13:51:41.019-04:00I like to think that in hard times our children ar...I like to think that in hard times our children are more likely to be exposed to a clear call for inclusive social justice; when many were living the "high life" on subprime mortgages and unpaid credit cards just fifteen/twenty years ago, our children only knew greed, greed, greed.ciedie aechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00443601825150518035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-82217999386057885582016-04-26T12:05:15.733-04:002016-04-26T12:05:15.733-04:00Amen! Will be there and thanks for a great post!Amen! Will be there and thanks for a great post!jmksdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03307897908999820902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-11198676889921606612016-04-18T20:14:58.604-04:002016-04-18T20:14:58.604-04:00I'm very sorry your daughter went through all ...I'm very sorry your daughter went through all of that. As you have read, she is not alone. Julie Borsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15205661029847875010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820189143681637300.post-31818894307147938002016-04-14T18:03:11.241-04:002016-04-14T18:03:11.241-04:00Charter schools in NJ are required to administer t...Charter schools in NJ are required to administer the PARCC exams. Students can opt out/refuse. Julie Borsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15205661029847875010noreply@blogger.com