Center Holds Workshop for Teacher Educators
On June 9th and 10th, the National Center on Student Progress Monitoring held the 2008 Student Progress Monitoring & Data-Based Instruction in Special Education workshop.  Workshop participants who teach at colleges all across the country heard expert speakers such as Doug and Lynn Fuchs, John Hintze, Michelle Hosp, Rebecca Holland-Coviello and Sarah Powell present materials on such topics as Data-Based Instruction, Introduction to Using CBM, Using CBM for Progress Monitoring in Reading and Math, Graphing and Interpreting CBM Scores, and Using CBM in RTI.  At the conclusion of the two-day workshop, participants indicated that they had increased their understanding of SPM and response to intervention (RTI), and planned to expand their course syllabi to include both topics in the upcoming school year.   We will be posting the workshop materials on our website soon.

As NCSPM nears the end of its five-year funding from the U.S. Department of Education, this workshop allowed the project to expand its reach with Institutes of Higher Education (IHE's).  If IHE’s incorporate student progress monitoring (SPM) into their curricula, and new teachers then integrate SPM into their classrooms, the Center will continue to have an impact on student learning after the project ends.

Department of Education Issues Draft IDEA Part B Regulations
On May 13, 2008, the U.S. Education Department published proposed regulations to Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Although final Part B regulations were published on August 14, 2006, the Department has "identified certain issues for which additional regulatory changes might be necessary," including:  
* Parental revocation of consent after consenting to the initial provision of services;
* A State's or local educational agency's (LEA's) obligation to make positive efforts to employ qualified individuals with disabilities;
* Representation of parents by non-attorneys in due process hearings;
* State monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement of the Part B program; and
* The allocation of funds, under sections 611 and  619 of the Act, to LEAs that are not serving any children with disabilities.
 
Comments on the NPRM are due on or before July 28, 2008.  

ED Approves Two Additional Growth Model Pilots under NCLB
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings June 10 announced approval of two high-quality growth models, which follow the bright-line principles of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Michigan is immediately approved to use the growth model for the 2007-2008 school year. Missouri's growth model is approved on the condition that the state adopt a uniform minimum group size for all subgroups, including students with disabilities and limited English proficient students, in Adequate Yearly Progress determinations for the 2007-2008 school year. In May 2006, North Carolina and Tennessee received approval to implement their growth models for the 2005-2006 school year. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida and Iowa received full approval to implement their growth model for the 2006-2007 school year. Additionally, Ohio submitted a quality growth model that was conditionally approved by the Department in May. The Department intends to invite states to submit growth model proposals in fall 2008 for implementation during the 2008-2009 school year. Further details about this next round of review will be forthcoming.

IRIS Center Re-Launches Online Special Education Dictionary
The IRIS Center has re-launched its IRIS Online Dictionary, which is a glossary of terms related to the field of special education, including progress monitoring, response to intervention, and differentiated instruction. The Dictionary has been fully updated with new definitions and now includes a cross-referencing feature that makes the resource easier to use and more informative than ever. To begin using the IRIS Online Dictionary, click here.

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