The following is a brief recap of the RA. The RA opened with an approval of the agenda, followed by reports from the CEC President, Secretary and Treasurer, Executive Director, Past President.
The Convention Registered 4,532; presented 601 Pre-Convention Workshops; and hosted 218 Expo exhibits, including 35 school systems; 463 exhibitors. Issues worked on in the RA session included the following:
2009-2011 Strategic Plan
• Goal 1: To improve the conditions of teaching and learning and support the highest quality of services for individuals with exceptionalities.
• Goal 2: To foster and effectively communicate the use of evidence-based practices in general and special education and early intervention.
• Goal 3: To foster mutual understanding and reciprocal partnerships internationally, supporting professionals in improving the lives of individuals with exceptionalities.
• Goal 4: To promote growth and diversity in membership by building a more engaged community to enhance professional practice, learning, leadership, and collaboration.
• Goal 5: To advance governmental policies impacting the teaching and learning of individuals with exceptionalities and the practice of professionals who work on their behalf.
• Goal 6: To continuously improve organizational performance and fiduciary effectiveness to provide value to members and customers.
Call for Nominations
• Timeline for Nominations Due Date: May 22, 2009
• Nominations Committee will review all applications and form the final slate by June 10, 2009
• Slate will contain:
• -2 candidates for President Elect - 6 candidates for Members-At-Large - -4 candidates for Members-At-Large, Diverse, Ethnic and Multicultural Groups
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT
• Discussion on how CEC will advocate to maintain ARRA’s level of funding as a baseline
• How Can CEC Members Continue to Help!!!
Take CEC’s Online Survey! www.cec.sped.org >> Policy & Advocacy
o How are your SEAs, LEAs, lead agencies, early intervention programs and schools using ARRA’s funds?
Has your job or anyone else’s been impacted by these funds?
What other impacts have you seen?
The CEC Board of Directors established a workgroup to develop recommendations regarding the Council’s international roles and responsibilities and its international presence as a professional organization in special education.
To help with their efforts, input is being requested from members in answering questions related to the international role of CEC.
Please send your response and comments regarding the attached questions to Dorothy Erickson at derickson@ruralcap.com.
To help CEC better meet your needs, we are requesting your input on the following questions. Please send comments or replies to derickson@ruralcap.com:
Question 1 : How can CEC best foster mutual understanding and reciprocal partnerships internationally?
Question 2: In what activities would you like to see CEC engaged in internationally?
Question 3: Please share activities that your unit is engaged in of an international nature?
Question 4: What, in the way of services, information, and resources, could CEC provide to assist units and members pursuing such international activities?
Question 5: What do you think would be the benefits of more international engagement (a) within CEC for current members in the United States and Canada, (b) current and potential new members from outside the United States and Canada, and (c) your units?
In the February 2009 CEC Today, you will read about a major milestone in the fight for full IDEA funding, considerations for administering medications in school, and one high school’s first-time experience implementing RTI. This issue also includes a message from the new CEC President, Kathleen Puckett.
CEC—Now more than ever!
CEC President Kathleen Puckett highlights the Council’s current activities and initiatives and offers ways to make the most of your membership.
President Signs Legislation to Double IDEA Funding
After 34 years of advocating for full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), CEC and its members have much to be proud of. President Barack Obama has signed legislation investing an unprecedented $12.2 billion into special education and early intervention programs.
Best Practices for Administering Medication in School
Use of prescribed medications has increased significantly among children with exceptionalities; therefore, it is critical that special educators have sufficient knowledge of their students’ medications and best practices for administering them.
Response to Intervention: A Rural High School’s Attempt to Improve Reading Achievement
With district assistance, one West Virginia high school developed its own three-tiered response to intervention (RTI) project to help its students become more proficient readers. The project leader shares the outcomes and lessons learned while implementing RTI.
Using Restricted Interests to Improve Academic Engagement and Social Interactions of Children with Autism
Children with autism spectrum disorders often pursue their restricted interests with intensity and focus. Recent research indicates the potentially enormous benefit of encouraging restricted interests to improve academic and social engagement.
RTI . . . Where Can I Get One?
Most educators have heard of RTI but seek additional information about how to implement it. The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements has developed of a series of free, online, interactive training modules about RTI for use by teachers, school leaders, college faculty, and other education professionals.
You May Be a CEC Leader If . . .
As a volunteer-member organization, CEC depends on its members for leadership — and that means you!
Involving Students in Their Own IEP Planning
Incorporating the IEP into lesson planning is a way to develop students’ self determination, awareness, and advocacy. It is also a means to ensure that special educators remain focused on the student while maintaining legally compliant documents.
Attached is the latest CEC Newsletter with information about the Council’s mission and work.
A Delegate Assembly luncheon is scheduled for Monday, February 16th during the Alaska Statewide Special Education Conference in Anchorage. It will be held at noon in the Ptarmigan Grill. We hope to see you there!
Present: Kelly Lytle (president), Laura Mitchell (secretary), Jeanne Ladd (president elect)
Discussed Items:
We would like to donate money for the Alaska State Special Education Conference. We are thinking of donating $1,000. Below are options for us to consider.
Coffee Breaks- $600 per break
Name Badges - $1,000
Speaker Sponsorship - $2,000 per speaker
Attendee Bag Stuffer – Advertisement- $100 per sheet
Attendee Bag Stuffer - Promotional Giveaway Item- $75.00
*must provide 1 item for each attendee
For next meeting:
Review bylaws- found on state website. We will look towards updating/revising these at the next meeting.
Get an update on Delegate Assembly options
Meeting Time: December 9th at 4:30
Present: Kelly Lytle (president), Laura Mitchell (secretary), Jeanne Ladd (president elect), Rebecca Concillus (webmaster), Dorothy Erickson (representative to assembly), Linda Capoun (treasurer), Vicky David (membership chair)
Goals for the Year:
1) Make website more interactive
Information will be sent to Rebecca for posting
Comments will be viewed/filtered upon being posted
Officer list will be updated shortly!
2.) Increase Membership
Explore reaching out to new teachers
Possible presentation or raffle at colleges in Alaska
Send flyers out to special education directors and principals
3.) Delegate Assembly
Form committee
Searching options for delegate assembly luncheon
Other items discussed:
How many representatives should we send to the National Convention?
Discussed current budget
Next meeting: October 21st at 4:30
- Items to be discussed include bylaws and Constitution.
In Attendance: Kelly Lytle, Dorothy Erickson, Jeanne Ladd, Laura Mitchell
National Conference:
- Dorothy attended as our representative to the assembly.
- She found the conference to be very formal and touching.
-Canada’s CEC will be merging with international.
- All members were in favor of paying total cost of Dorothy’s trip out of chapter money. Initial estimate was about $350.00 short.
- Jeanne and Kelly also attended the conference separately.
- Next year’s conference will be in Seattle, Washington.
Website:
- All members were in favor of renewing our domain name for 5 years at a total of $175.00.
- We will vote next meeting as to whether or not we will continue using the same website and having Rob host it.
Other items on the agenda:
- All members were in favor of holding off on the book scholarship for UAA until a later date.
- There will be a CEC Leadership Conference this summer in Arlington, VA. Should we send a member?
- How can we increase membership?
Next meeting will be held: Thursday, May 15th at 4:00
The next meeting is scheduled for March 5th at 4:00 PM via teleconference.