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"Do I have a right to observe the class before agreeing (or not agreeing) to a placement for my child? The special ed director said I cannot observe the class because of confidentiality issues with the other children." Pete says: I have represented kids with disabilities since 1978. In all these years, I have never had an instance where a school denied a parent, or the parent's private sector expert, the opportunity to observe a potential placement. The school board attorneys with whom I have worked over the years have always permitted observations by parents and the parent's outside experts.   When a school administrator takes this position, it creates an appearance of two things (both bad): (1) that the program is clearly not appropriate and the parent will quickly discover this, and (2) that the school is attempting to keep important information from parents. I think many Hearing Officers and Administrative Law Judges would view a refusal to allow an observation as grounds to find that the proposed placement was not appropriate.

What:The OPI in partnership with DPHHS will bring together parent and youth representatives, school administrators and educators, school counselors, CSCT program administrators and other mental health providers from across the state.Cick here for more informationWhen:March 1-2, 2012Where:Red Lion Colonial HotelHelena, MT Contact:Brandi Long, bklong@mt.gov

Click here for registration materials What: It’s time to register for the 14th Annual Montana Educator Forum. The forum is an outstanding opportunity for Montana educators and leaders to come together to discuss important issues affecting classrooms and schools in Montana. Sponsored by the Montana Professional Teaching Foundation, MEA-MFT, School Administrators of Montana (SAM), and the State Certification Standards and Practices Advisory Council (CSPAC), the forum is intended to initiate engaging and important conversations between Montana educators and policymakers. Here is what one forum attendee said about the annual forum: “I always leave energized, excited, and enthusiastic about my year.” This year’s forum theme is “Building Relationships That Work.” Strong partnerships between schools and communities and between teachers, administrators, and students are essential for our students’ success. The 2011 Montana Educator Forum will showcase a few of the many examples of key relationships that Montana school districts are engaged in that are creating a bridge to student success. Registration materials are available at: http://www.mea-mft.org/our_foundation/programs/montana_educator_forum.aspx When: September 30, 2011 Where: Red Lion Colonial Inn Helena, MT

The U.S. Education Department's Office of Civil Rights on Friday is sending school districts a 13-page guidance document that spells out the rights of students with disabilities to participate in school athletics.

What: Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance through Dear Colleague Letters to elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education along with a Frequently Asked Questions document on the legal obligation to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of technology. This guidance is a critical step in the Department’s ongoing efforts to ensure that students with disabilities receive equal access to the educational benefits and services provided by their schools, colleges and universities. All students, including those with disabilities, must have the tools needed to obtain a world-class education that prepares them for success in college and careers. Today’s guidance provides information to schools about their responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The guidance supplements a June 2010 letter issued jointly by OCR and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The June letter explains that technological devices must be accessible to students with disabilities, including students who are blind or have low vision, unless the benefits of the technology are provided equally through other means. Today’s guidance highlights what educational institutions need to know and take into consideration in order to ensure that students with disabilities enjoy equal access when information and resources are provided through technology. “Technology can be a critical investment in enhancing educational opportunities for all students,” said Russlynn Ali, assistant secretary for civil rights. “The Department is firmly committed to ensuring that schools provide students with disabilities equal access to the benefits of technological advances.” Today’s guidance is part of a larger effort by the Department and Obama administration to better serve the needs of people with disabilities. Last month, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined Kareem Dale, associate director for the White House Office of Public Engagement and special assistant to the President for disability policy, for a conference call with stakeholders to talk about some of the Department’s efforts. During the call, Duncan discussed the Department’s commitment to maintaining accountability in No Child Left Behind for all subgroups, including students with disabilities, and highlighted the Department’s proposal to increase funding for students with disabilities in the fiscal year 2012 budget. Ali will also join Dale for a stakeholder conference call where she will discuss today’s guidance and address the Department’s work to ensure that all schools are fulfilling their responsibilities under the federal disability laws that OCR enforces.

Click here to register!What:The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, in conjunction with the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology and Bioethics, the Harvard Law Project on Disability and the UNESCO Bioethics Chair American Unit, is proud to invite you, to join us on December 10th for a Symposium on Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Autism Research at Harvard Law School. The free event will run from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Harvard Law School campus, Hauser Hall, Room 105. Topics covered will include prenatal testing, community participation in research methodologies, appropriate and inappropriate intervention goals and much more. This symposium will serve a unique role in shedding light on ethics and values issues within the autism research community. By bringing together self-advocate and researcher participants, we hope this will serve as a starting point for meaningful dialogue between those conducting research on autism and the community of Autistic adults and youth. Confirmed participants include Administration on Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Sharon Lewis, ASAN President and IACC Public Member Ari Ne'eman, National Institute on Child Health and Human Developmental Director Alan Guttmacher, Harvard Law Professor Michael Stein, Paula Durbin-Westby, Emily Titon, Liz Pellicano, David Rose and many more.   This event is open to the general public without charge and is made possible by a grant from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.When:Saturday December 10, 2011 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM ESTWhere: Harvard Law School, Hauser Hall Room 1051563 Massachusetts AvenueCambridge, MA 02138 Contact: Ari Ne'eman Autistic Self Advocacy Network 202.596.1056 info@autisticadvocacy.org

The Butte school district has violated federal law and a special education student’s rights, according to a June 8 report in response to a complaint filed April 13 with the state Office of Public Instruction. The district failed to provide an administrator at the student’s Individual Education Plan meetings, which resulted in the student receiving inadequate services, the complaint states. Mary Boyle, of Butte, mother of the 6-year-old kindergarten student who has disabilities, said that the district failed to assign a one-on-one full-time paraprofessional for her daughter, which was required by her daughter’s Individual Education Plan, because no administrators capable of assigning the paraprofessional attended the IEP meetings.

We are our own biggest enemy. Our assumptions that is...and we all bring them to the table when thinking about the role of school, special education, and inclusion. Let me see if I can boil down the issue (as I see it) as succinctly as possible. Teachers, principals, therapists, district administrators, psychologists, lawyers or any other educator representing the district are extremely anxious about unrealistic expectations from parents. Parents, advocates, self-advocates, students, lawyers representing the families or any other party are extremely anxious about the school district not giving the appropriate services and/or placement for their child with disabilities. Can you see the problem? It is trust.

Welcoming Schools is an LGBT-inclusive approach to addressing family diversity, gender stereotyping and bullying and name-calling in K-5 learning environments. Welcoming Schools provides administrators, educators and parents/guardians with the resources necessary to create learning environments in which all learners are welcomed and respected.

Click here to download the full brochure with registration form (PDF) When: February 2, 2010 Where: Fifth Avenue Christian Church Havre, MT What: Educators everywhere can agree that students need to master a core body of personal skills and competencies thereby positively impacting their school and community, actively engaging in their education. Participants will learn strategies for moving schools from operating in a 20th Century paradigm to creating a model that reflects our dynamic 21st Century, interconnected world. FREE TRAINING FOR: Elementary middle school and high school teachers special education teachers administrators paraprofessionals and parents.

Mark your calendars to attend the Montana Conference for Exceptional Children Conference on April 13-15th in Billings, Montana. Scholarships are available for this event (see below). The Theme this year is: Special Education in the 21st Century: Tools for the Future If you are interested in presenting at this conference, visit http://www.mtcec.org/conference Click here to download the Scholarship Application (PDF) A limited number of scholarships are available on a first come, first serve basis for residents of Region IV consisting of the following counties:  Park, Gallatin, Meagher, Broadwater, Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Madison, Powell, Granite, Silverbow and Beaverhead Scholarships are available to use for registration costs up to $400.00 per school/organization. Scholarships will be awarded to teams attending one of the listed conferences. Teams should include a combination of personnel such as General Educators, Special Educators, Paraeducators, Administrators, Related Service Personnel, Parent, and/or Agency Personnel.  Each team must attach a narrative identifying the school/organization goals and a description of how attending the specified conference will help the team make systemic changes to the school/organization. CEC (Council for Exceptional Students) Conference in Billings, April 13-15, 2011 MBI (Montana Behavior Initiative) Summer Institute in Bozeman, June 20-24, 2011 MEI (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) Conference in Helena, June 14-16, 2011 MASP (Montana Association of School Psychologists) Summer Institute in Billings, June 12-14, 2011 Scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis.  If interested send this form with required narrative to: Denielle M. Miller, Coordinator Region IV CSPD 3929 Baxter Lane Bozeman, MT  59718.  Or email as an attachment to dmiller@bridgeband.com

One of the biggest hurdles for school districts wanting to buy new buses or contract with a company that provides buses with seat belts is cost, since federal law prohibits retrofitting older buses. School budgets are already faced with financial crunches. Although most administrators admit if seat belts make buses safer then they should be required, determining how to foot the bill is another matter altogether.

What: The Division of Special Education has scheduled an All Teacher Training on the dates and locations below. The training will review the special education process and forms. When: All trainings will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: Browning, September 13 Administration Building Lewistown, September 13 Fergus High School Auditorium Ronan, September 14 Ronan Middle School Auditorium Terry, September 14 Terry High School Butte, September 15 Location to be determined Hardin, September 15 Hardin Middle School Auditorium