U.S. Department of Education Sponsors Research Roundtable with CEC Members

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 29, 2012 — Today, leaders from the U.S. Department of Education convened a roundtable discussion with members of the Council for Exceptional Children to discuss the research needs of special educators who work daily to improve educational outcomes for the nation’s six million children and youth with disabilities.

“Bridging the research-to-practice gap has been a long identified challenge in education, and a motivation for holding the discussion,” stated Bruce A. Ramirez, CEC Executive Director. “CEC is honored that Dr. Deborah Speece, Commissioner for the National Center for Special Education Research and Dr. Melody Musgrove, Director of the Office of Special Education Programs within the U.S. Department of Education sought insight and feedback from CEC members who serve on the frontline of education,” Ramirez continued.

Today’s roundtable provided special education teachers -- who rely on high-quality research and the development of evidence-based interventions to inform their instructional practice – with an opportunity to identify areas in need of additional research. Some topics discussed included:

 

• Building a more robust source for evidence-based instructional practices;
• The successes and challenges of implementing response to intervention;
• Instructional practices for students with intellectual disabilities;
• Addressing barriers to implementing evidence-based interventions;
• Increasing dissemination of research and resources available from the U.S. Department of Education.

“I will bring back to my county that the U.S. Department of Education is looking forward to doing research that will provide a framework and guidelines on best practices for educators of students with disabilities,” Jennifer Parrish, special educator in Charles County Public Schools, Maryland.

“Every day, special educators enter the school building ready to make a difference in the lives of students. Today’s discussion will ensure that they have the tools, knowledge and resources to help students excel,” stated Deborah Ziegler, CEC Associate Executive Director for Policy and Advocacy.

To see more pictures from the event, click here.

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