Special Education Law – Educational Rights

Special Education Law – Educational Rights This is a reminder that Joseph Montgomery will be speaking this Saturday August 2nd, 2014 at the Westin Philadelphia on Special Education Law, specifically regarding Educational Rights. This presentation is part of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Symposium on Childhood Cancer. For questions, please email Shirley@AlexsLemonade.org or call 610-649-3034. When: Saturday, August […]

Shameful record on helping students with special needs

Shameful record on helping students with special needs “Florida schools are failing students with special needs. At far too many public schools and private charter schools, support for children with physical, mental and emotional challenges remains inadequate or nonexistent. It’s been this way for years. It’s time state lawmakers and local school leaders stand up […]

Special education camp aims to teach middle-schoolers confidence, self-advocacy in Hampton

Special education camp aims to teach middle-schoolers confidence, self-advocacy in Hampton “HAMPTON—Michéle Woods Jones struggled with dyslexia when she was a little girl. The executive director of Hampton’s Citizens’ Unity Commission shared her story with about a dozen seventh-and eighth-graders at Eaton Middle School in Hampton Wednesday morning. Jones told the students that despite the […]

JH vs. Upper Darby School District

PENNSYLVANIA SPECIAL EDUCATION HEARING OFFICER DECISION DUE PROCESS HEARING Name of Child: J.H. ODR #15047 / 13-14-KE Date of Birth: [redacted] Date of Hearing: July 21, 2014 OPEN HEARING Parties to the Hearing: Parent[s] Upper Darby School District 4611 Bond Avenue Drexel Hill, PA 19026 Representative: Pro Se Scott Gottel, Esquire Holsten & Associates One […]

SM vs. Philadelphia School District

Pennsylvania Special Education Hearing Officer DECISION Child’s Name: S.M. Date of Birth: [redacted] Dates of Hearing: March 28, 2014 April 25, 2014 May 7, 2014 May 21, 2014 May 22, 2014 June 9, 2014 CLOSED HEARING ODR Case #14512-1314KE Parties to the Hearing: Parent[s] Philadelphia School District 440 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19130 Representative: […]

Special ed cuts won’t hurt students, Philly school officials say

Special ed cuts won’t hurt students, Philly school officials say By Kevin McCorry for NewsWorks on Jul 15, 2014  “The Philadelphia School District laid off 157 special education classroom assistants and one-to-one aides last week in a move that officials say won’t negatively affect children. School advocates in the legal community, though, remain highly dubious. […]

JC vs. School District of Philadelphia

PENNSYLVANIA SPECIAL EDUCATION HEARING OFFICER DECISION EXPEDITED DUE PROCESS HEARING Name of Child: J.C. ODR #15167 / 13-14-AS Date of Birth: [redacted] Date of Hearing: July 8, 2014 OPEN HEARING Parties to the Hearing: Parent[s] School District of Philadelphia 440 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19130 Representative: Jason Fortenberry, Esquire Sonja Kerr, Esquire Public Interest […]

SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD

SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD The R-word is still on peoples tongues and it’s up to us to spread the word to end the word. The folks at www.r-word.org are doing a great job getting the message across. If you have a story about how you have personally helped or observed someone make […]

MMA fighter with Down syndrome sues to get back in the ring

From today.com: “A 24-year-old Mixed Martial Arts fighter with Down syndrome, Garrett Holeve says he’s ready for a fight, but to him, his fiercest opponents aren’t in the ring: They’re the people stopping him from climbing into it. “I can (do it). Don’t mess with me,” Holeve told TODAY.com. “I’m a blue belt.” Holeve is […]

D.C. considers special-education overhaul

From the Washington Post: “The District has made progress toward complying with federal special-education law, the U.S. Education Department reported last week, but the city continues to be one of a handful of jurisdictions that lag far behind expectations for serving children with disabilities. In the parlance of the federal government, special education in the city […]