CEC Policy Insider

CEC White House Event Attendees Share Their Reactions

On Wednesday, February 22, CEC was invited to participate in a special White House event where our members met with top officials in the Obama Administration to discuss special education policy issues. To read more about CEC's visit to the White House, please click here.

Following Wednesday's event, several of the attendees volunteered to share their reactions with us. Check out the videos below or visit CEC's YouTube page to view.

 

Special education teacher and member of CEC’s Board of Directors Donna Sacco from Arlington, Va., on her participation in a White House dialogue on Feb. 22 with leaders from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the U.S. Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.

 

CEC member Vivian Correa, professor of special education and child development at the University of North Carolina former member of CEC’s Board of Directors and current President Elect of CEC’s Teacher Education Division (TED), on her participation in a White House dialogue on Feb. 22 with leaders from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the U.S. Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.

 

Special education teacher, member of the CEC Board of Directors, and former Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year Matti Rodriguez-Walling, from Miami, Fla., on her participation in a White House dialogue on Feb. 22 with leaders from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the U.S. Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.

 

CEC student member Julie Farbman, who is studying at the University of Maryland to become a special educator, on her participation in a White House dialogue on Feb. 22 with leaders from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the U.S. Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.

CEC Members Raise Top Special Education Issues at White House Meeting

Today, in a meeting reserved solely for members of the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Center for Learning Disabilities, CEC members met with top officials within the Obama Administration to discuss critical issues confronting special education across the nation. 

At a time when the economy is impacting schools across the country and as the Obama Administration is pursuing reforms in education through the Race to the Top program and granting waivers from some of NCLB’s most stringent requirements, CEC members asked officials questions that are on the minds of many special educators, such as:

The President’s FY 2013 Budget: What does it mean for Special and Gifted Education?

Today, the President released his budget for FY 2013. CEC is pleased that the President clearly is committed to education and has offered an alterative vision for the automatic cuts set to take place January 1, 2013 if Congress doesn’t act. But, CEC is concerned with the emphasis on new programs at the expense of core programs. Read Deborah Ziegler, CEC’s Associate Executive Director for Policy and Advocacy Services statement below and see a chart highlighting the President’s proposals for special and gifted education at the bottom.

10 States Receive ESEA Waivers

Today, CEC’s Deb Ziegler attended a White House event where President Obama and Secretary Duncan announced that 10 states received waivers from the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act currently known as No Child Left Behind (ESEA/NCLB). The waivers allow states to replace ESEA/NCLB targets with targets of their own. To get the waivers states had to demonstrate that they adopted college and career-ready standards in addition to comprehensive systems of teacher and principal development, evaluation and support.

The State of the Union: Education is a Priority

Last night, President Obama delivered his third State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. In a much anticipated speech, the President focused sharply on the need for more investment in education and more support for teachers nationwide.

CEC’s Executive Director Bruce Ramirez commented on the speech and stated, “CEC applauds President Obama for making investment in education a priority and his acknowledgement that ‘teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies – just to make a difference.’  That is certainly true of CEC’s some 33,000 members, special educators who have devoted themselves to improving the lives of children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.” To read Dr. Ramirez’s full statement click here.

Tell the White House what you think!

Later this week, there will be more opportunities to reach out the administration. OnFriday, January 27 at 9:00 AM EST Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, will be answering questions on Twitter via #WHChat. At 12:00 PM EST, that same day Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy will do the same. You can follow along with either discussion through the @WHLive twitter account.

Finally, on Monday, January 30, President Obama will host a Google+ Hangout, which is a live, multi-person video chat. You can submit questions for that via theWhite House YouTube channel, where you can also vote for your favorite questions. The deadline for submission is Sunday, January 28 at midnight ET.