CEC Policy Insider

Federal Grants Available to Support Development of Special Educators

After some delay, the U.S. Department of Education has released grant application information focused on supporting the development of special education teachers, administrators, early interventionists, and related service personnel.  Divided into three priorities, the personnel preparation grants seek to build a pipeline of talent for the special education workforce and respond to personnel needs at the state and local levels.  For some time, CEC and its members have been urging for the timely release of these grants to ensure full and meaningful participation by   institutions of higher education and interested students. 

U.S. Department of Ed Launches New Data Tool

The launch of a new data tool by the U.S. Department of Education seeks to deliver information about federal grants to the public in a new, user-friendly way.  Data.ed.gov is a pilot program which now hosts information on the Investing in Innovation and Promise Neighborhood grant programs, and is a part of the Obama Administration’s Open Government Initiative.  Additional data and grant programs will be published on an ongoing basis. 

More information.

Senate Confirms First Person with Autism to Serve on National Council on Disability

The Senate unanimously confirmed Ari Ne’eman on Tuesday to become the first person with autism to serve on the National Council on Disability. The National Council on Disability makes recommendations to the president and Congress on disability issues.  

ACTION ALERT: Urge Your Senators to Oppose Amendment to Eliminate Gifted Education Program

We need your help to fend off yet another assault on the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, the only federal program dedicated to identifying and serving students with gifts and talents. 
This time, the attack is not about funding levels, but about whether the program should continue to exist.

U.S. Department of Education issues long awaited Guidance on IDEA MOE Waiver Requests

As CEC has reported several times on this blog, states are experiencing a financial crisis greater than any in the last 70 years. Due to falling revenues from lower tax collections, many states have been forced to cut state funded services across the board. These deep cuts are also, in some places, impacting states ability to maintain their funding of IDEA.  Thus, Iowa, Kansas, West Virginia, and South Carolina have all requested waivers of IDEA’s Part B “maintenance of effort” provision.