CEC Policy Insider

Sen. Harkin Introduces New Restraint and Seclusion Bill

Just before last year ended, Senator Harkin introduced a new piece of legislation addressing the use of restraint and seclusion in public schools, the Keeping our Students Safe Act, S. 2020. CEC, along with many of our community partners and division leaders, have worked tirelessly over several years on this important issue and we applaud Senator Harkin for continuing this important conversation. CEC believes that S. 2020 is an important step forward toward our goal of providing states and districts a consistent standard to guide the use of restraint and seclusion.   

Hungry for More Special Education Policy Info; CEC Webinars Give Cutting-Edge Insight

Pay for performance.  Teacher evaluation systems. No Child Left Behind. Budget Cuts. 

The political climate and Congressional stalemates of the past several months have left many of us wondering about the future of education and policy funding. CEC's Policy and Advocacy team will explore the most controversial issues under consideration for a new Elementary and Secondary Education Act, including educator evaluation (based in part on test scores and impacting teacher compensation), restraint and seclusion, charter schools, accountability, and assessment. The team will also explore the latest in the federal budget talks, what the debt ceiling deal really means, what you need to know about the Special Joint Congressional Committee, and what will happen - including funding cuts - if Congress can't agree.

Join us on October 13th and December 6^th for:

• Capitol Controversy: How the Political Climate is Shaping Education Policy

Thu., Oct. 13, 2011 4:00PM – 5:00PM ET

• Hang On! Federal Budget: What Do Special Educators Really Need to Know?

Tue., Dec. 6, 2011 4:00PM – 5:00PM ET

 

Click here for more information!

CEC Convention Unites Thousands of Special Educators; Policy Sessions Front and Center!

Last week, thousands of special educators from across the nation gathered in the Washington, DC area for 4-days of intensive professional development at CEC’s Annual Convention and Expo.  Among the over 900 sessions at the Convention were sessions focused solely on policies at the federal level and their impact on special and gifted education. 

Legislation Limiting Use of Restraint & Seclusion Reintroduced in the House

Today, Representative George Miller (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Education and Workforce Committee in the House of Representatives reintroduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act. This important legislation, which includes many of CEC’s and its division the Council for Children with Behavior Disorders (CCBD’s) recommendations, would limit the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools receiving federal dollars, except in cases of emergency.

House Committee Questions Duncan about Lack of Support for IDEA

The U.S. Secretary of Education testified about the President’s FY 2011 budget request and ESEA reauthorization to the House Education and Labor Committee. Duncan was grilled by both Republicans and Democrats about the lack of funding increases for IDEA.