• ED Issues Notice to Extend Funding for Javits by One Year
• NBES Names First Executive Director
• Assistant Secretary of OVAE Resigns
• Report Examines High School Graduation Exit Exams; Includes State Profile Analysis
• Gallup Poll Finds Majority Support Alternate Standards for Special Ed Students
• ED Provides Assistive Technology Funding Opportunity for States

ED Issues Notice to Extend Funding for Javits by One Year

On August 23rd, the Department of Education issued a notice in the Federal Register stating that the Director of the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) has extended funding for the Javits Gifted and Talented Program – National Research and Development Center for an additional year (now due to expire on September 30, 2006), an extension beyond the typical five-year project period. This extension seeks to avoid a lapse of funding while IES works to determine its awards for 2006. Funding for the Center supports national research and methodology to identify and teach students with gifts and talents.

To read the full notice in the Federal Register, please visit:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-16722.pdf

NBES Names First Executive Director

The National Board for Education Sciences (NBES) has named Sonia Chessen as its first executive director. Chessen comes to NBES as a seasoned policy analyst on issues related to children and youth.

NBES, as established by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, is tasked with providing review and evaluation of the priorities set forth by the director of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

Assistant Secretary of OVAE Resigns

Susan Sclafani, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), an office of the Department of Education, has resigned her post effective September 6, 2005. Recently appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of OVAE, Beto Gonzalez, will be Acting Assistant Secretary until a successor is appointed.

The Office of Vocational and Adult Education seeks to prepare young people and adults, including those with disabilities, for postsecondary education, successful careers, and productive lives.

For more information on OVAE, go to, http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html

Report Examines High School Graduation Exit Exams; Includes State Profile Analysis

Earlier this month, The Center for Education Policy (CEP) released its fourth report examining high school exit exams and their impact on various student populations, including students with disabilities. The report, titled "States Try Harder, But Gaps Persist – High School Exit Exams 2005", studies the methodology used by states that administer exit exams to accommodate all students, including those with disabilities. In addition, the report provides examples of accommodations in test presentation and response, and offers state profiles, which include a section on students with disabilities. To read the full report visit, http://www.cepdc.org/highschoolexit/reportAug2005/hseeAug2005.pdf

Gallup Poll Finds Majority Support Alternate Standards in NCLB for Special Ed Students

A recent Gallup poll found that 68% of respondents believed that special education students enrolled in public school should not be held to the same standards as other students. Conducted in June 2005, "The 37th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitude Toward the Public Schools" surveyed 1,000 adults on general perceptions of testing, the achievement gap, NCLB, curriculum/instruction, and problems/assessment.

The poll also concluded that 62% of respondents chose not to include the standardized test scores of special education students in the overall scores to determine if a school should be deemed “in need of improvement” under NCLB.

In May 2005, the Department of Education released guidelines stating that 2% of students with disabilities could be evaluated using alternate assessments, allowing states to make adjustments to their adequate yearly progress.

To read the full Gallup poll, visit: http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k0509pol.pdf

For information from ED regarding the 2% guideline, visit: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/05/05102005.html

ED Provides Assistive Technology Funding Opportunity for States

On September 1, 2005 the Department of Education issued a statement in the Federal Register detailing the steps States must take if they wish to receive funds under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Among other things, states must submit a State Plan for Assistive Technology describing the activities of statewide comprehensive programs that increase access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities and the goals to be achieved during the three-year plan period, by September 28, 2005.

For more information, visit: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17448.pdf