Explore

Thoreau Elementary School Implements Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices for Students

Thoreau Elementary School Implements Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices for Students

Thoreau Elementary School has seen a notable increase in the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices among its students over the past decade. Speech-language pathologists Angela Suarez and Ann Bailey confirm that ten Concord students from kindergarten through fifth grade currently utilize these speech-generating tools, with two more expected to join soon. The Concord Education Fund recently awarded the school a $9,600 grant to further support students with complex communication needs. This funding will be used to acquire iPads, software licenses, and related hardware, making these devices available in regular education classrooms. This initiative aims to help classmates and staff learn to use AAC devices, fostering a more inclusive communication environment. AAC devices can range from low-tech options like pictures and gestures to high-tech devices that produce spoken words, and they are customizable to individual user needs, including the number of buttons and access methods.

Demopolis High School Partners with Alabama Regional Library to Expand Audiobook Access for Visually Impaired Students

Demopolis High School Partners with Alabama Regional Library to Expand Audiobook Access for Visually Impaired Students

Demopolis High School (DHS) has initiated a partnership with the Alabama Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled. This collaboration, spearheaded by DHS librarian Kelley Tarpley, aims to provide visually impaired students with free access to audiobooks and other accessible reading materials. The program allows eligible students to download materials directly to their personal devices or receive them by mail at no cost. This initiative is designed to enhance reading opportunities, foster learning, and enable students to explore new interests independently. The Alabama Regional Library operates under the Alabama Public Library Service and is part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled network, a division of the Library of Congress. This network, including its subregional library in Talladega, serves over 8,000 eligible Alabama residents by offering accessible reading resources.

Kent State University Awarded $1.3 Million Grant to Support Future Teachers

Kent State University Awarded $1.3 Million Grant to Support Future Teachers

Kent State University has received a five-year, $1.3 million TRIO Teacher Preparation Student Support Services grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant aims to assist undergraduate students who aspire to become teachers, particularly those who are first-generation college students, income-eligible, or have disabilities. The university will receive $272,000 annually to support 140 students. The program will offer a range of services, including academic tutoring, guidance on course selection, financial aid assistance, and financial literacy education. Antoinette East-Jenkins, director of TRIO Teacher Preparation Student Support Services at Kent State, emphasized that the program will provide comprehensive support to students throughout their journey to becoming educators, addressing various challenges from coursework to licensure and the transition into their own classrooms.

Bucks County Courier Times

Ex-CBSD school board member, wife sue district over alleged abuse of son

Ex-CBSD school board member, wife sue district over alleged abuse of son

The lawsuit filed by a former CBSD board member & his wife alleges the district withheld allegations of classroom abuse of their son as retaliation.

President Trump Administration Cuts $70 Million in University International Education Funding

President Trump Administration Cuts $70 Million in University International Education Funding

The Trump administration has announced a cut of $70 million in federal funding for international education and foreign language studies at universities nationwide. This action follows the dissolution of the agency responsible for distributing these grants after September 2025, a year earlier than their scheduled end. Congress had previously restored $70.3 million for these programs in February, and the U.S. Department of Education had announced a new $70 million grant in June. However, President Trump utilized a pocket rescission to withhold the congressional allocation days before the fiscal year's end on September 30. This cut is part of a larger package of over $800 million in federal rescissions targeting what the administration deems 'wasteful and harmful government spending,' which also includes significant reductions to refugee services and programs supporting migrant students. For instance, NYU's Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, which previously received over $500,000 annually from these ...

Oregon Departments Seek Public Feedback to Update Early Learning and Kindergarten Guidelines

Oregon Departments Seek Public Feedback to Update Early Learning and Kindergarten Guidelines

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) are inviting early childhood professionals to participate in virtual engagement sessions. The purpose of these sessions is to gather feedback for updating and expanding the state's Early Learning and Kindergarten Guidelines. The revisions aim to incorporate infant and toddler development, align with recent statewide initiatives and frameworks, and better support early learning and care settings that serve children from birth through age five. Professionals such as early educators, program leaders, administrators, and kindergarten teachers are encouraged to participate and will receive a stipend for their time. The goal is to ensure the updated guidelines are relevant, practical, culturally responsive, and useful across Oregon’s diverse early learning environments.

The Arc of Chester County Appoints Amy Kelly as New CEO

The Arc of Chester County Appoints Amy Kelly as New CEO

The Arc of Chester County has announced the appointment of Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, as its new Chief Executive Officer. Kelly brings over 20 years of extensive experience in behavioral health, family engagement, and special education programs, all focused on supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism. She previously served as the National Director of Family Engagement at Devereux, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations in behavioral healthcare. Kelly's personal connection to The Arc's mission is significant, as she is a mother of three adult children, including a daughter with autism, IDD, and verbal apraxia. This personal experience, combined with her professional background, provides her with a deep understanding of the needs of the community The Arc serves. The Board of Directors selected Kelly after an extensive search, expressing confidence in her strong advocacy skills, industry expertise, and professional network. Jeanne Meikrantz, the retiring ...

Stride, Inc. Seeks Title 1 Engagement Ambassador for Texas Virtual Academy

Stride, Inc. Seeks Title 1 Engagement Ambassador for Texas Virtual Academy

Stride, Inc., through its K12 company, is hiring a Title 1 Engagement Ambassador for the Texas Virtual Academy of Hallsville (TVAH). This full-time, remote position is funded by Title 1 and is responsible for enhancing student engagement through regular student conferences, parent contact, and coaching to address both academic and social-emotional needs. The ambassador will manage a caseload of students, aiming to remove barriers to academic success. Key duties include serving as a liaison between students, learning coaches, and teachers, contacting late-starting or missing students, monitoring academic progress, and initiating interventions for students showing academic decline. The role also involves providing outreach, training, and support to families, participating in staff meetings and professional development, and assisting with state testing. The position offers a base salary of $48,000. Candidates should have at least three years of experience in education, an understanding of Title 1 programming,...

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

KCS special ed chief says better classroom oversight is coming | Exclusive

KCS special ed chief says better classroom oversight is coming | Exclusive

Brad Carr is breathing a sigh of relief now that Knox County Schools' special ed plan has been rolled out. But the work is just getting started.

Arkansas HBCUs Receive $4 Million in Federal Funding, Philander Smith University Secures Over $1.1 Million

Arkansas HBCUs Receive $4 Million in Federal Funding, Philander Smith University Secures Over $1.1 Million

Philander Smith University, alongside other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Arkansas, has announced the receipt of approximately $4 million in additional federal funding. This allocation is part of a larger $174 million distribution from the U.S. Department of Education to HBCUs nationwide. Philander Smith University specifically received $1,139,146 from this one-time allocation. The announcement was made at a press conference on the Philander Smith campus, attended by Philander Smith University President and CEO Dr. Maurice D. Gipson, U.S. Rep. French Hill, and leaders from Arkansas Baptist College, Shorter College, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The funding aims to bolster the institutions' capacity to serve students and communities, particularly focusing on first-generation students, those with significant financial needs, and individuals seeking to complete their college education.

U.S. Representative French Hill Announces $4.2 Million in Federal Funding for Arkansas HBCUs

U.S. Representative French Hill Announces $4.2 Million in Federal Funding for Arkansas HBCUs

U.S. Representative French Hill, alongside University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Chancellor Anthony Graham and leaders from other Arkansas Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), announced over $4.2 million in additional federal funding. This funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, is intended to bolster institutional capacity and enhance student success at Arkansas's four HBCUs. UAPB alone will receive $1.6 million of this allocation. The announcement took place at Philander Smith University in Little Rock on September 28. Representative Hill, who co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus, emphasized that investing in HBCUs is an investment in young people, the workforce, and community success. The supplemental funds are designed to support academic programs, student services, facilities, technology, and financial management.

Jobs for the Future and College in High School Alliance Propose Federal Grant Framework for Dual Enrollment

Jobs for the Future and College in High School Alliance Propose Federal Grant Framework for Dual Enrollment

Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the College in High School Alliance (CHSA) have introduced a new federal grant framework aimed at assisting states in modernizing their dual enrollment infrastructure. This proposal seeks to expand access to high-quality, transferable, and accessible dual enrollment programs across the nation. While 82% of high schools currently offer dual enrollment, many statewide systems face significant challenges, including fragmented data systems, inconsistent credit transfer policies, insufficient educator capacity, and a lack of coordination between K–12 and higher education institutions. The organizations argue that addressing these systemic issues requires a stronger federal role, as local program expansion alone cannot overcome these structural barriers. The proposed framework, informed by state leaders and experts, focuses on helping states develop, improve, or modernize their statewide infrastructure to support these programs.