Lauren Morando Rhim, co-founder and executive director of the Center for Learner Equity (“the Center”) endorses Valerie Williams as Director of the Office of Special Education.
CLE partnered with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in early December to conduct a live webisode on our 2021 report, Lighting the Path to Inclusion. As schools continue working to respond to and recover from the pandemic’s impacts, this timely conversation focused on school leaders committed to learning outcomes for students with disabilities.
Guide Showcases Specialized Programs at Schools Citywide Along with New Referral Process to Improve Student Access; Part of Multiyear Effort by NOLA Public Schools, Center for Learner Equity, and Schools to Scale and Improve Student Access to Specialized Programs New Orleans, LA — For the first time in the city’s post-Katrina school system families of children with disabilities can access a dedicated resource regarding specialized programs across the city’s schools, as well as a consistent process for seeking referrals to these programs through each student’s IEP team. NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) and the Center for Learner Equity (CLE) have worked for several years in partnership with local charter schools and key non-profit partners to develop a comprehensive vision for specialized programming for students with disabilities. This vision includes uniform access, sustainable funding, and a commitment to quality in programs so that across the school system, all students with disabilities who require significant supports can benefit from meaningful educational opportunities no matter what school they currently attend. A milestone of the work thus far is NOLA-PS’ new Specialized Programs Guide and streamlined referral process, both developed in partnership with CLE. The guide highlights ten specialized programs for students with significant disabilities […]
The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) has conducted a secondary analysis of the 2017-2018 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) released in 2020. The CRDC is the nation’s leading data set on civil rights indicators related to access and barriers to educational opportunities.
CLE applauds Federal District Court Judge Yeakel’s ruling striking down Texas’ Executive Order prohibiting mask mandates in schools. We are thrilled that these Texas students will now be able to safely access their education, and we hope this court decision is a wake-up call to the other states that have implemented similar discriminatory prohibitions.
As Congress and the White House work to finalize the Build Back Better Act, CLE applauds them for considering the needs of students with disabilities. We strongly them to maintain language in the bill to ensure that the civil rights of these students are protected.
CLE’s latest brief, How Has the Pandemic Affected Students with Disabilities? A Review of the Evidence to Date, examines the impacts of COVID-19 on students with disabilities based on a review of hundreds of studies. In particular, the report highlights widespread disruptions to student’s Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans. It also examines significant disparities in access to specialized services and draws attention to areas of further inquiry.
In this recorded webinar, Wendy Tucker, CLE’s Senior Director of Policy, discusses new US Department of Education guidance for upholding IDEA during COVID-19 and explores critical issues facing schools 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic.
CLE report cited in Chalkbeat Colorado’s “Special ed questions on charter school apps violate federal law, complaints allege”.
In response to state mandates prohibiting local school districts from implementing mask requirements in public K-12 schools, The Center for Learner Equity calls upon state leaders to reverse those decisions and allow districts and local authorities to implement policies that will afford safer, equal access to school for all students, including those with disabilities.