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In a letter to state directors of special education this week, the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) emphasized that federal special education law requires elementary, middle and high school special education teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree and be fully certified to teach special education. OSEP warned that, according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states must ensure special educators are adequately prepared and trained. Special education teachers and related services personnel may not have their certification or license requirements waived on an emergency, temporary or provisional basis, the letter said, while teachers participating in alternate routes to obtain a special education certificate must do so in compliance with federal rules. In a survey of 904 schools released last month by the National Center for Education Statistics, respondents said special educators were among the top understaffed positions in schools. Nationally, there were 7.2m students ages 3–21 who received special education services under the IDEA in 2020-21, representing 15% of all public school students, according to NCES.

 

K12 Dive

Effective Communication. Strong Leadership.

What does it take to be a successful leader in today’s educational environment? Effective communication.

Join Lexia^® during the EdWeek Virtual Forum on October 13 to hear from experts and gain practical strategies for communicating effectively with teachers and students. Highlights include:

• Industry Perspective: How Asset-Based Leadership Makes Teachers and Educators Feel Seen, Heard, and Valued
• Panel Discussion: How to Keep School Staff Motivated
• Interactive Session: What Are You Doing Wrong? How School Leaders Can Become Better Communicators

Register for this important forum to find out how you can motivate staff and ensure your educators feel valued.

Register now

 

The Texas Supreme Court on Thursday heard arguments in a lengthy case over whether the Texas Education Agency has the authority to remove all of Houston ISD's board members and temporarily replace them with a state-appointed board. At the center of the hearing was the impact of a law that updated the education code last year and that TEA lawyers argued cleared the path to implement the agency's plan. The state's highest court took the case nearly two years after the Third District Court of Appeals sided with the HISD and upheld a temporary injunction barring TEA Commissioner Mike Morath from taking over the board in response to the continued low performance of HISD's Phillis Wheatley High School, as well as allegations of misconduct by trustees. The current HISD board will remain in office as long as the injunction stands. If the court were to eventually side with the TEA and overturn the injunction, state education officials could install a new board, which in turn could vote to terminate the HISD lawsuit.

 

The Texas Tribune

Javaid Siddiqi, Ph.D., president of the Hunt Institute education policy advocacy organisation, which aims to recruit one million teachers of color and 30,000 leaders of color to the national workforce over the next decade, argues that evidence of widening learning gaps nationwide must be the catalyst for states and districts to prioritize "creativity and intentionality" in academic recovery plans. Research has shown that educators of color increase the performance of all students, particularly students of color, he writes, while a diverse educator workforce is a benefit to all communities. For examples of the kind of bold, creative policymaking this requires, the author says we can look to state leaders like commissioner Margie Vandeven for her work to improve educator recruitment and retention in Missouri, superintendent Tony Thurmond for his leadership in expanding California's student wraparound supports through community schools, and commissioner Penny Schwinn for her commitment to advancing the evidence-based literacy instruction to improve grade-level reading in Tennessee.

 

The Hill

Agricultural education enrollment at Lubbock ISD has increased by 156 students in the past year. That number is projected to rise even more after the new LISD Agri-STEM complex opens this fall. “Agriculture, nobody really talks about it,” says Coronado agriculture student Bailey Ufford. “I think it’s really important to talk about because it is the 2% of the population feeding the 100% of the population.”

 

KCBD

Michael Homann has been selected to be Danbury ISD's next superintendent, after trustees named him the lone finalist. “Mr. Homann will bring leadership and expertise in managing the finances of our district along with a passion for educating children that we believe will propel DISD to the forefront of schools in Brazoria County,” Board President Cody Corbell said. Homann has spent the last three years as superintendent of Pettus ISD, a district of about 375 students in Bee County near Victoria. Ivonne Durant, current interim superintendent for Marathon ISD, and a former top Dallas ISD school administrator, has been named as the lone finalist for the position of permanent superintendent. District trustees voted unanimously on the action in a special board meeting.

 

The Facts

Alpine Avalanche

The U.S. Department of Education has announced 19 Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) awards totaling $110m and four new grant awards for the 2022 Equity Assistance Center (EAC) program totaling more than $6.5m. The MSAP awards support efforts to develop and revitalize magnet schools with academically challenging and innovative instructional approaches designed to bring together students from different social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. The EAC awards fund four new regional EACs that each provide technical assistance to public schools and other agencies focused on addressing equity in their community for students and the educators who support them related to race, sex, national origin, gender identity, disability, and religion.

 

Ed.gov

Residents in Copperas Cove are seeing orange in local businesses, on buildings and in schools to mark National Bullying Prevention Month. Orange is the color that represents anti-bullying awareness. CCISD’s 2nd annual Paint Your School/ City Orange campaign encourages the community and schools to work together to stop bullying and cyberbullying by increasing awareness of the prevalence and impact of bullying.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

A recent survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of the Data Quality Campaign reveals that 99% of the 253 district superintendents polled feel that state data could be more useful to them and their schools. Almost all (98%) say better access to information would make them more confident in their abilities to make decisions for their district. The top answer from 49% of superintendents was that they need more useful tools or technology that lets them see patterns and changes in their data. Another 45% of superintendents say having data linked across agencies would make it more useful, while 44% say they need more training and ongoing support about how to interpret and use data well. Superintendents also cited funding (42%) and time available (41%) as factors that affect how useful data is for them. “Superintendents are asking for insights,” said Brennan Parton, vice president of the Data Quality Campaign nonprofit. “They feel like they have a lot of information. But what they want was just more insights to help them make decisions.”

 

Education Week News

A formal exchange between several academics offers an encapsulation of the range of views about the purpose, performance, and possibilities of locally-elected school boards and the schools they govern. Vladimir Kogan, associate professor at The Ohio State University, Rachel S. White, assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Sarah Stitzlein, professor at University of Cincinnati, Kathleen Knight Abowitz, professor at Miami University, Derek Gottlieb, associate professor at University of Northern Colorado, and Jack Schneider, associate professor at University of Massachusetts Lowell all contribute.

 

Education Next

Laredo ISD has hosted a dedication ceremony in honor of former superintendent Dr. Marcus Nelson, who died in May 2021 as a result of health complications. He was named Superintendent of the Year in 2014 by the Texas Association of School Boards. Nelson also served as the Waco ISD Superintendent after leaving LISD. He was later hired as a consultant for the City of Marlin.

 

Laredo Morning Times