Articles
Holding high expectations for all kids will lead to better outcomes
As stated in this article, “[e]xperts believe that the vast majority of students with disabilities — more than 80 percent — can meet the same academic standards as other students, when they have the right support. But right now, only 8 percent of the 6.6 million students with disabilities in U.S. public schools are prepared to…
Read More…When good men do nothing
On Tuesday, 16 April 2019, the state of California effectively decided that the San Mateo Foster City School District can hold my son, Geoffrey, back in preschool forever. This is an absurd decision. We will challenge it – as long and as far and as long as it takes. You will lose eventually. But he…
Read MoreStart from the very beginning… accessing special education
Even after researching and analyzing special education laws and policies for years, I can still get caught up on the question of whether a special need or disability does or does not qualify a child for an IEP and/or a 504 in school… this may be in the form of accommodations, services, or other supports…
Read MoreOn Observing National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month – Thank you!
Every month is Something Month. Every week is Something Week. Every day is Something Day. It is easy to get jaded or cynical. Or we can use these opportunities to inspire and educate and bring real awareness in the best spirit these occasions are offered. March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. My local Board…
Read MoreThe Endrews decision, 2 years later
As stated in this April 2018 article, https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/05/02/a-year-ago-the-supreme-court-raised.html “A year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that schools must offer students with disabilities an education reasonably calculated to enable them to “make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances,” what has changed? On the one hand, not much, if evaluating the dozens of special…
Read MoreGrassroots Inclusion Manifesto – Call to Action
You are part of a movement. There are 703,977 students with disabilities in California. That means there are 1,407,954 special needs parents in California. And that doesn’t include your friends, extended family, and other people who believe in you, care about you, and believe in your child. It also doesn’t include younger kids with disabilities…
Read MoreCalifornia School Districts spend $95.6 Million per year to fight Students with Disabilities (more or less)
No one knows what school districts spend to fight against their special education families… it is time to find out. If you talk to a parent of a child with disabilities, they all have or know a story about someone fighting their school district. Everyone dreads it. There’s got to be a pretty good business…
Read MoreCalifornia School Dashboard – Students with Disabilities – 2018
California’s school dashboard for 2018 hides as much as it shows. Students with disabilities are present, but hidden (some would say “separate, but unequal). The following is the “Students with Disabilities” dashboard for California as a whole. It is taken directly from the main state summary (I’ve clicked on all the links and done a…
Read MoreIs your child in mental health crisis? Your school can help you today… Ask about ERMHS and Wraparound Supports
Is your family in crisis? Does your child have a mental health diagnosis? Or do you suspect one? Are you working within or toward an IEP, whether in a public school or NPS placement? Do you have a 504 Plan? *** I was in crisis with my now-10 year old son for many years, with…
Read MoreThank you Foster City and San Mateo
You’ve shown that you care about our community and our schools. Thank you moms and dads and kids. Thank you teachers and staff. Thank you PTAs and administrators. Thank you parents and grandparents and passionate citizens of San Mateo and Foster City and beyond. Over 500 of you sent out over 10,000 postcards to the…
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