ALE, or better known as the Alternative Learning Experience program in WA State may be exactly what you are looking for. Here’s how OSPI (The Office of Public Instruction) describes it: “The Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) is public education where some or all of the instruction is delivered outside of a regular classroom schedule. It…
Helping Kids Regulate by Regulating Ourselves – A Conversation with Rivka Stern In this episode of Stress-Free IEP, Frances Shefter sits down with Rivka Stern, a former pediatric occupational therapist who spent over 20 years working directly with children before realizing that the most powerful change often comes from working with parents. Drawing on both…
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Unfortunately, some school districts may be facing uncertain fiscal times and thus have to make difficult decisions with respect to reducing staff. In addition, districts still must deal with ongoing employee performance issues (and subsequent employee challenges to any disciplinary consequences). In this context, questions often arise regarding whether and to what extent board of…
Read More “The FOIA and Eliminating Positions/Employees: Pullman & Comley” »
A disciplinary change of placement occurs for a student with a disability if: (1) The removal is for more than 10 consecutive school days; or (2) he student has been subjected to a series of removals that constitute a pattern because the series of removals total more than 10 school days in a school…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. When the federal government took control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the White House portrayed it as a response to public safety concerns, even though DC’s crime rate is down. On the surface, this massive increase in law enforcement may seem unrelated to special education. But for students with…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. If you’re a parent or educator, you might have heard the term equity floating around recently. It sounds complex, but at heart, it’s pretty straightforward. Equity in special education means ensuring all students, no matter their racial or socioeconomic background, receive appropriate and fair support. Here’s the catch: many schools…
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. If you’re the parent of a Twice-Exceptional (2E) child (i.e. one who’s both gifted and has learning or emotional challenges), you already know that the journey isn’t easy. These kids often defy expectations, showing incredible talents in one area while needing support in another. And while public schools in DC…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Theo Huxtable, played by the newly departed Malcolm-Jamal Warner, was the only son of Attorney Clair and Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show, an eighties and early nineties blockbuster sitcom about an upper middle-class Black family in Brooklyn, New York. At a time when learning disabilities were rarely seen…
Read More “How Theo Huxtable’s Dyslexia Educated a Generation About Learning Disabilities” »
Meeting People Where They Are In this powerful episode of Stress-Free IEP, host Frances Shefter welcomes Alicia Dalton, Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships at QCI Behavioral Health, to discuss how her organization provides life-changing mental health services across Maryland. With over 30 years of experience in behavioral health, Alicia shares a heartfelt look into…
In this episode of the Stress-Free IEP podcast, host Francis Shefter welcomes Casey Joseph, founder and executive director of Casey’s Special Education Services. What starts as a casual discussion unfolds into a rich, insightful conversation about how comprehensive support for students with special needs can transform lives—and why building a collaborative village is more critical…
