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Academic Acceleration For teachers, gifted coordinators, administrators, and parents. This 3 credit course is offered once a year through the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center using an online format. For information about the course schedule and how to register, email acceleration@belinblank.org.

Questions and Answers section

"Acceleration is one of the most curious phenomena in the field of education. I can think of no other issue in which there is such a gulf between what research has revealed and what most practitioners believe. The research on acceleration is so uniformly positive, the benefits of appropriate acceleration so unequivocal, that it is difficult to see how an educator could oppose it."

STEM

(science, technology, engineering, math

The other components of mental illness listed below are important to consider when looking holistically at your, or another’s, mental health. Knowing these different factors — and how they can contribute to making a mental health condition more severe — can help shape treatment plans. Please note that this list does not, and could never, include everything that connects to mental illness. But we will do our best to continue adding more information.

Occupational therapy (OT) teaches you how to adapt. It can help you perform any kind of task at school, work, or in your home. You’ll learn how to use tools (you may hear them called assistive devices) if you need them.

IDEA’s Definition of OHI

Children are affected for years to come by decisions that divorcing parents make during the initial phase of divorce. The Parents Forever divorce education sessions are intended to provide divorcing couples or those contemplating divorce with the information they need to make decisions that will minimize the stress of this transition for the entire family.

Learning disability is a general term that describes specific kinds of learning problems. A learning disability can cause a person to have trouble learning and using certain skills.

dyslexia—which refers to difficulties in reading; dysgraphia—which refers to difficulties in writing; and dyscalcula—which refers to difficulties in math.

When a child has a learning disability, he or she:

The term “twice-exceptional,” also referred to as “2e,” is used to describe gifted children who, have the characteristics of gifted students with the potential for high achievement and give evidence of one or more disabilities as defined by federal or state eligibility criteria.

Twice-exceptional children often find difficulty in the school environment, where organization, participation, and long-term planning play a role

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is a process schools use to figure out what’s causing challenging behavior.

To help students, schools use a process to identify and understand challenging behaviors, and come up with possible solutions.

During an FBA, the school team gathers information and uses it to create a plan to improve behavior.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children.

Additionally, the IDEA authorizes: Formula grants to states to support special education and related services and early intervention services. Discretionary grants to state educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and other nonprofit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology development, personnel preparation and development, and parent-training and -information centers.

In the law, Congress states: Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.

PACER Center enhances the quality of life and expands opportunities for children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities and their families so each person can reach his or her highest potential. PACER operates on the principles of parents helping parents, supporting families, promoting a safe environment for all children, and working in collaboration with others.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides states and territories with flexibility in operating programs designed to help low-income families with children achieve economic self-sufficiency.  States use TANF to fund monthly cash assistance payments to low-income families with children, as well as a wide range of services.

Contact information for state TANF programs.

The Office of Family Assistance collects and analyzes data on TANF caseloads, expenditures, work participation rates, recipient characteristics, and more.

Eligibility To get coverage, you must:  Be a Minnesota resident Be a U.S. citizen or a qualifying noncitizen Provide a Social Security number for each person requesting MA, unless an exception is met Meet the income limit and asset limit, if any Meet any other program rules. What is the income limit? The income limit and calculations depend on your age and who lives with you. If you are pregnant, blind or have a disability, you also may have a different income limit. Some people who do not meet the income limit still may qualify using a spenddown (PDF). A spenddown is like an insurance deductible. This means you are responsible for some medical bills before MA pays. What is the asset limit? Assets are items people own like cars, checking and savings accounts, your home and financial investments. Generally, there is no asset limit for MA for parents, children under 21 and adults without children in the home. Parents and caretaker relatives eligible for MA with a spenddown have an asset limit (PDF). Seniors and people age 21 and older who are blind or have a disability have an asset limit (PDF). Assets that do not count toward the limit include the home where you live, household goods, personal items like clothing and jewelry, and certain assets owned by an American Indian. What if I have other insurance? You still may qualify for MA. You must tell us if you have other health insurance or could get coverage through an employer or military service. Sometimes we can pay the cost of the other insurance so you can keep that coverage.

Benefits What is covered and how much does it cost? MA pays for a variety of services like doctor visits, prescriptions and hospital stays. Some services and prescriptions may require prior approval.  For some members, there is no cost. Others may have to pay a portion of the cost of a service. This may include copays, deductibles or spenddowns.  A summary of covered services and costs is online.  A printable summary of covered services and costs (PDF) is also available.  You will get more details on covered services after your application is approved.  When does coverage start? MA may pay for medical bills going back three months from the month we get your application.

Medical Assistance (MA) is Minnesota’s Medicaid program for people with low income.