1 / 28

Policy & Advocacy Committee

Join the Policy & Advocacy Committee to learn about the key policy and legislation that can make a difference in your work. Explore hot topics in transition and employment and gain insights from industry experts. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference!

colucci
Download Presentation

Policy & Advocacy Committee

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Policy & Advocacy Committee Kimberly Osmani Chair “The Many Shades of Gray:…… All the Key Policy/Legislation Info You Need to Know to Perform Effectively!” 

  2. Points of interest • Introductions • History of Committee • Vision for the Future • Hot Topics in Transition and Employment • WIOA • ESEA/NCLB • HEA • IDEA

  3. Who’s who? • Jim Martin, President, DCDT & Director of Zarrow Center & Prof at U. of Oklahoma • Kim Osmani, Transition Coordinator, OK Department of Rehabilitation Services • Stacie Dojonovic, Transition Specialist, Public Schools in Pittsburgh, PA • Dale Matusevich, Transition Coordinator, DE State Department of Education • Jane Razeghi, Executive Director, DCDT

  4. Our Wishful thinking for this session • Commit to knowing policy & legislation that helps you make a difference at any level! • Consider becoming a member of DCDT’s Policy & Advocacy Committee!!! • Have fun & make friends along the way……especially with a little wine & cheese!

  5. The many shades of gray… • History of the Policy & Advocacy Committee.. • (formerly known as the Governmental Relations or Affairs Committee) • Transition services, etc. for students & youth with disabilities didn’t used to be in the legislation (DCDT helped make that happen) • Testifying, testimony, letters…….meetings on the hill!

  6. Vision for the future… • A fully functioning, active Policy & Advocacy Committee that influences policy at several levels: • National (capitol hill; CEC) • State • Local

  7. How legislation & policy have made a difference • In PA……………... • In DE………… • In OK………… • Nationally………….

  8. Some interesting hot topics… • WIOA • Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) • HEETA (formerly HEA) • IDEA

  9. Workforce innovation and opportunity act (WIOA) 2014 Reauthorization (had been 15 years) • Competitive Integrated Employment (compensation and benefits) • Student v. Youth and 15% of funds for Pre-Employment Transition Services • Collaboration, partnerships, teamwork for coordinated services • Subminimum wage, contracts, sheltered employment (July 22, 2016) • Awaiting final regulations (late spring 2016)

  10. Esea (info and update from cec) 2015 House vs Senate – Total Opposites Where are we in the legislative process? (waiting for) Passage by House & Passage by Senate Education Committee Education Committee

  11. ESEA Reauthorization (CEC update) • Student Success Act (HR 5) – passed July 8, 2015 (218-213) CEC opposed, as did most of the disability community • Every Child Achieves Act (S 1177) – passed July 16, 2015 CEC supported many provisions & opposed many provisions

  12. Examples of CEC’s Selected ESEA Reauthorization Conference Recommendations • Maintain • Accountability or students with disabilities • Provisions on discipline • Personnel qualifications • Fiscal resources • Focus • Professional development • High ability students • Prohibition on Title I portability issues & vouchers

  13. Higher Education and Employment transparency act (HEetA) • Expired at end of 2013 and introduced to the House in March 2015 • H.R.1573 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) • Student loans, Pell for low and middle income, teacher preparation and disadvantaged students • Streamlining and easing financial aid process • Forming work groups on: accreditation, accountability, affordability and financial aid, and sexual assault and safety

  14. Higher ed employment transparency act (HeEtA) • Republican focus: • empowering students to make informed decisions • simplifying and improving student aid • promoting innovation • increasing access and completion • ensuring strong accountability while limiting the federal role • Concern that ESEA issues delay this as well

  15. Individuals with disabilities education act (iDEA) •  S.130 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) • Full Funding Act with intent to increase funding each year until 2025 when funded at 100% • Now is the time to prepare

  16. A Very Important Partner…. Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in Arlington, VA!!! Go to: www.cec.sped.org Thanks to Deb Ziegler, CEC’s Director of Policy & Advocacy… • Policy Insider Blog • CEC Policies & Positions • CEC Action Network (Kim is DCDT’s rep to that)

  17. Resources Available Through the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Issue briefs on a couple of hot topic areas in special and gifted education that you may find interesting and helpful.  https://www.cec.sped.org/Policy-and-Advocacy/Current-Sped-Gifted-Issues/Issue-Briefs • Early Childhood • School Climate & Mental Health

  18. Resources Available Through the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) • In addition, some resources on the annual budget and CEC’s requests re appropriations. https://www.cec.sped.org/~/media/Files/Policy/Current%20Sped%20Issues%20Home/Federal%20Outlook%202016%20FINAL.pdf

  19. Resources Available Through the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)www.cec.sped.org

  20. More CEC Resources – www.cec.sped.org • CEC Professional Policies and Positions • Recent Policies • CEC's Position and Background Information on Special Education Teacher Evaluation • CEC's Position on Special Education Teacher Evaluation(position only)  • CEC's Policy on Children with Exceptionalities in Charter Schools • CEC's Position on School Vouchers • CEC's Policy on Physical Restraint and Seclusion Procedures in School Settings

  21. More CEC Resources – www.cec.sped.org • CEC Professional Policies and Positions • Recent Policies • CEC's Policy on Safe and Positive School Climate • CEC's Position on Response to Intervention • CEC's Policy on Assessment and Accountability • CEC's Policy on Exit Exams for Students with Exceptionalities • CEC's Definition of a Well-Prepared Special Education Teacher • CEC's Policy on Academic Subject Matter Content of the General Curriculum and Special Educators

  22. More CEC Resources – www.cec.sped.org • CEC's Policy Manual • CEC Policy Manual • Special Education in the Schools • Administrative and Fiscal Identity • Special Education and the Community Outside the Education System

  23. More CEC Resources – www.cec.sped.org • CEC's Policy Manual • Community-Based Services • Special Education's Responsibilities to Adults with Disabilities • Take Action! • Member Resources Hub • Forgot password? Remember Me • Not a member yet? Join

  24. What Do You Think Are Today’s Hot topics (Policy and/or Legislation)? • Check with the person on either side of you, front and back • Discuss what you’d like to see happening in transition services that could become policy or legislation • Share with whole group!

  25. How Would YouLike DCDT’s Policy & Advocacy Committee to Function? • State reps? • Meetings at both DCDT & CEC? • Monthly phone conferences? • Articles in DCDT newsletters & other publications? • Other thoughts & suggestions…

  26. The Many Shades of Gray…… Policy & Legislation are truly fascinating…. • DCDT’s Policy & Advocacy Committee is expected to do a number of things, such as…. • Communicate “hot topics” to • DCDT’s Executive Committee & Board • DCDT’s State Subdivisions • Prepare suggestion testimony and/or policy statements on relevant topics for DCDT and possibly present testimony

  27. Future Vision • Communicating with you between now & April 2016 to determine if DCDT needs to be “heard” on certain hot topics or legislation; • Bring concerns & issues to the DCDT Executive Committee & Board for further action by membership (when required) • See you all again at the DCDT Policy & Advocacy Committee Meeting in April, 2016 CEC Convention in St Louis (?)

  28. In the meantime…. • Sign-up to become a committee member….. • Introduce yourself to at least 1 other person at this session whom you don’t know…. • Enjoy the wine & cheese! Thank you for attending!

More Related