1 OSEP Project Directors’ Conference Washington, DC – July 2013 SPECIAL EDUCATION PERSPECTIVES: POLICY, FUNDING, AND THE FUTURE

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4  Election 2012  Education Legislation  Teacher Evaluation  ESRA Reauthorization  Budget  UNCRPD Today’s Agenda

5 Who did we elect? ELECTION 2012

6 This seat is taken…

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ELECTION 2012: WHAT DID WE LEARN? The times they are a changing… 8

9 Obama’s share of the white vote shrank, but the overall number of white voters also shrank.  Women: Obama 55%  LGBT: Obama 76%  African American: Obama 93%  Hispanic: Obama 71%  Asian: Obama 73%  White: Romney 59% Race and Gender Overview of 2012 Election Demography

10 Pew Research Center, Nov. 26, 2012 Voters under age 30 were 19% of the electorate. 1% > 2008  Obama 60%  Obama 52%  Romney 51%  65+ Romney 56% Young people voted

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12 Source: buzzfeed.com

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16 EDUCATION LEGISLATION

17  ESEA  IDEA  Workforce Investment Act (WIA)  CCDBG (17 years overdue!!)  Education Sciences Reform Act  Higher Education Act

18 Has the process stalled??? Legislation/Reauthorization

19 TEACHER EVALUATION

20 Outputs Highly Effective Inputs Highly Qualified Policymakers: A Shift in Focus

21 States are working it out. Now Private Investment of $45 Million in Several Pilot Districts Gates Foundation: MET Study 41 State Applications Proposed Changes to Teacher Evaluation systems Race to the Top Policy Movers …

22 Incorporate Research Recognize Professionalism Measure Evidence- Based Practice Complex Role System Components Components of Special Education Teacher Evaluations

37  All educators must be included in one evaluation system.  Evaluation systems must identify appropriate professional development opportunities for teachers based on the results of their evaluations.  Evaluations must support continuous improvement.  Evaluation processes and all measures of teacher effectiveness must be open and transparent to the teacher being evaluated. Include Fundamental System-Wide Components Teacher Evaluation Systems Shall:

38  Evaluations must clearly identify and be based on a special education teacher’s specific role and responsibilities during a given school year.  Evaluations must take into account the population of children and youth and their range of exceptionalities that special education teachers instruct.  Evaluations must be conducted by evaluators with expertise related to evidence-based service delivery models and individualized teaching practices and interventions in special education. Identify the Complex Role of the Special Education Teacher Teacher Evaluation Systems Shall:

39  Evaluations must be based on multiple reliable measures and indicators that support valid measurement of special education teacher effectiveness.  Evaluations should never be based solely on student growth.  Statistical models that estimate a teacher’s contribution to student growth, such as value-added models, should not be applied to any teacher until there is a general consensus among researchers that the model provides a valid estimate of a teacher’s contribution to student growth. Measure the Use of Evidence-Based Practices Teacher Evaluation Systems Shall:

26 Value Added Measurement (VAM)

41 Multiple indicators of special education teacher effectiveness may include … IEP development and implementation. Evaluations should not use a student’s progress on their goals, objectives, and benchmarks in the IEP as a measure of a special education teacher’s contribution to student growth. Use of IEP

28 EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM ACT

29 Strengthen National Center for Special Education Research Bridge Research-to- Practice Gap Recognize Special/Gifted Ed in Institute for Education Sciences Support, Strong Consistent Leadership CEC’s ESRA Recommendations

30 Over 260 NCSER Projects

31 What can we expect?? FEDERAL BUDGET

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Federal Budget FY 2012

34 FY 2012 US DOE Budget

35 FAILURE SuperCommittee

36  A Republican aide, said a few days later:  “We showed some leg. The Democrats want us to get completely naked.”  A Democrat involved in the negotiations said: “We made a reasonable offer and got nothing in return. We got naked in the room. Republicans are standing there in overcoats, hats and gloves and are toasty warm.” New York Times Article 12/5/11

Health, Education, Labor Half Cuts to - Non Discretionary Half Cuts to Defense What is Sequestration??

38  FY 13 = fixed percentage across-the-board (ATB) cuts.  $2.5 billion CUT from ED Dept of Ed  Over $600 million cut to IDEA, Special Ed Research  Head Start cut $401 million  FY – will not be the Across the Board cut; just a further lowering of discretionary caps Sequestration = Largest Education Cuts Ever!

39 FY 13 Impact of Sequestration

Sequestration = Full Funding Plunges to 14.5%

41 Public sees budget negotiations as “Ridiculous”, “Disgusting” and “Stupid.” August 1, 2011, Pew Research Center.

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44 IDEA Part B$10.97 Billion Decrease of $602 Million IDEA Part B Section 619 $ Million Decrease of $19 Million IDEA Part C$ Million Decrease of $23 Million IDEA Part D$ Million Decrease of $13 Million Javits$0 SpEd Research$47.30 million Decrease of $2.5 Million Change Total Amount FY 2013: Where did we end up?

45 President’s Budget – FY 2014

46  Overall discretionary ED spending would increase by $3.1 billion compared to FY 12 (+4.5%).  Rejects Sequestration  ESEA = +$783 million (+3.3%) Excludes RTTT since all funding proposed for higher ed  Preschool =+$750 million (new)  Special Ed = +$18.6 million (+0.1%)  Career/Technical/Adult Ed = +$13 million (+0.7%)  Student Financial Aid = +$150 million (+0.6%)  Higher Education = +$1.31 billion (+58.2%)  IES = +$77.4 million (+13.0%) President’s Budget – FY 2014

47  IDEA State Grants frozen Federal share of average per pupil expenditure (APPE) fell to 14.9% in FY 13 due to the sequester cuts. Lowest level since FY 2001! President's Budget restores sequester cut but freezes at FY 12 level. Federal share = 15.4%  Preschool State Grants are frozen.  IDEA grants for infants and families = +$20 million (+4.5%)  National activities cut by $1.4 million (-0.6%). Special Education - IDEA

$1.085 Trillion Senate -18.6% $965 Billion House A Budget Resolution PASSED both Chambers, but not the same one … 2014: Where are we now?

49 Pre-sequestration Levels and some increases! IDEA Part B$ Billion IDEA Part B Section 619 $ Million IDEA Part C$ Million IDEA Part D$ Million Javits$15 Million SpEd Research$ million Senate Appropriations Committee Action: July 2013

CNN Poll conducted by ORC International during November 16-18, 2012

Appropriations – Does anyone support us?

52 Outcome: U.S. Ratification of the UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities guaranteed globally UN Convention on the Rights of People With Disabilities UN Convention

53 A convention, or treaty, is a legally binding document between 2 or more countries. A human rights convention is a treaty that deals specifically with human rights. The International convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities is a “thematic treaty”, meaning that it defines the human rights of a particular demographic (in this case, the human rights of people with disabilities). What is a Human Rights Convention?

54 As of September:  155 signatures to CRPD  91 signatures to Optional Protocol  130 ratifications of CRPD  76 ratifications of Optional Protocol How many Countries have Signed or Ratified the CRPD?

55 CRPD 155 Signatories and 130 Ratifications

56  President Obama signed on July 30, 2009  The U.S. has not ratified to date Has the U.S. Signed and Ratified?

57 Hearing: July 12, 2012

58 1. CRPD as tool to address abuses 2. International Disability Rights Movement 3. International Cooperation Agencies & UN Bodies 4. International Law What will be the Potential Impact of the CRPD?

59 Inclusion for ALL: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities

60  Senate Hearing – Summer 2013  What can you do?  Hill visits – ask your Senator to vote for the U.S. Ratification of the CRPD  Go to CEC’s Legislative Action Center and send a letter to your member of Congress. CRPD: Next Steps

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69 Choose: Policy & Advocacy Choose: Legislative Action Center Choose: Policy & Advocacy Choose: Legislative Action Center Take Action: CEC’s Legislative Action Center

70 Questions?????

71 CEC Policy & Advocacy Services Deb Ziegler, Associate Executive Director 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 1000 Arlington, VA Phone: CEC Policy & Advocacy Services Deb Ziegler, Associate Executive Director 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 1000 Arlington, VA Phone: Thank you!