Students With Disabilities & The ESEA

CCD Education Task Force CCD has 114 member organizations 65 organizations on the ED TF Co-chairs: –Katy Neas, Easter Seals –Laura Kaloi, NCLD –Cindy Smith, NDRN Since 1973, CCD has worked to achieve federal legislation and regulations that assure that the 54 million children and adults with disabilities are fully integrated into society.

Work of the 112 th Congress Reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA)/No Child Left Behind Workforce Investment Act Appropriations (FY 2011 and FY 2012) Restraint and Seclusion

Major Policy Challenges Misp erception that all students with disabilities cannot: achieve grade level proficiency take grade level assessments or gain a regular high school diploma Allowing teachers in training to qualify as the teacher of record Allowing restraint and seclusion in most states with no minimum federal standards Too few champions on the Hill!

Summary of ESEA Recs All students –are general education students first –should leave high school ready for college or a career –have the right to be free from physical or mental abuse, aversive behavioral interventions and any physical restraint or seclusion Assessments must be designed and implemented so all students can demonstrate their academic knowledge and skills The principles of UDL must apply throughout ESEA Struggling learners should be identified early and should receive targeted instruction or interventions

ESEA Recommendations (cont.) All teachers must have the skills and knowledge to teach grade-level content to diverse learners Growth models must include all students and ensure that students are held to high expectations The IEP is not an appropriate accountability tool to measure a student’s academic progress Families must be empowered to be effective advocates for their child All education laws must be adequately funded

A Few Key Facts 56% of students with disabilities graduate with a regular diploma versus 70% of students in the general population 24% of students with disabilities live in poverty, compared with 16% in the general population $36,300 is the average annual income for people with disabilities vs $65,400 for people without a disability 13.8% of people with disabilities are unemployed, compared with 9.5 percent for people without a disability

CCD’s Policy Plan Coordinate workgroups to develop recommendations on key issues Educate the new Congress about the successes and capacity of our kids to succeed, not matter their challenges Work with key Members and the Administration Collaborate with others wherever possible

1.Call, write or 2.Communicate with clarity and brevity 3.Make a personal visit 4.Enlist your friends to get involved, send alerts 5.Stay involved, stay in touch! What you can do to help