Citizens Alliance to Uphold Special Education (CAUSE) has proposed to partner with school districts to provide training (or co-trainings) on any or all of the following topics:

• Bullying
• Communication Skills and Problem Solving
• Positive Behavior Support
• Section 504 Plans
• ADHD
• Post-secondary Transition Planning
• IDEA 2004

The cost for each workshop is based on the length of the session (2 hours versus 5 hours), packets for each participant, and mileage reimbursement. Honorarium is $200 (2-hour sessions) and $500 (5-hour sessions). If an overnight stay is required, additional charges will apply. As you likely are aware, federal stimulus dollars can be used for professional development for your staff. MEA also offers professional growth and development grants for up to $3000. Applications are available online at www.mea.org. These would be helpful in addressing AYP issues in a building/district, particularly for the subgroup students with disabilities.

CAUSE sent notice of these trainings to all Michigan Special Education Directors. Although you might be familiar with CAUSE’s work in the realm of special education, you can see that several of the listed topics pertain to ALL students. Moreover, because students who receive special education services are general education students first and therefore are increasingly included in general education classrooms, training on all of these topics are relevant to all educators.

Please let us me know if you are interested in any additional information. You may also contact Frances Spring at CAUSE (517-886-9167) or Debra Hilvers at the Tri-County CAUSE office (248-424-9610). The website for CAUSE is www.causeonline.org

New Administrative Rules and New State Complaint Procedures

On April 3, 2009 new Administrative Rules for Special Education were filed with the Office of the Great Seal.  These rules took immediate effect. 

See a copy of the recently changed rules , the new State Complaint Procedures, and a complete copy of the Michigan Administrative Rules with the side-by-side federal regulations.  This document contains the latest Michigan rules and federal regulations as of April 6, 2009.

Special Education Alert # 2  

Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education That Take Immediate Effect

On September 11, 2008 the attached changes to the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education rules were filed with the Secretary of State.  These rules take immediate effect.

The following changes are of particular significance:

• Specific learning disability has been defined (R 340.1713).

• Severe cognitive and multiple impairment programs have been changed to a minimum of 200 days and 1,150 clock hours of instruction. The previous rules provided for 230 days and 1,150 clock hours of instruction.

The Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services is in the process of producing a document that will incorporate all of the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education and pertinent federal regulations.

A complete copy of the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education will be forthcoming from the State Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules. The compiled rules are not yet available.  When they are, the Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services (OSE/EIS) will post the complete set on the OSE/EIS website. In addition, MEA will post the set here.

Provision of Programs and Services to Incarcerated Youth in County and City Jails

Department of Education: Superintendent of Public Instruction
Special Education Programs and Services

Special Education Alert Regarding:
Standards for Extended School Year Services in Michigan

• On August 12, 2008 the State Board of Education approved Standards for Extended School Year (ESY) Services in Michigan. See Standards for Extended School Year Services.

• These regulations do not create new legal standards but instead codify well established case law in the area and reflect longstanding interpretation of the IDEA by the courts and the United States Department of Education that the right of an individual child with a disability to receive ESY services is based on the child’s entitlement to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

• These federal regulations and the Standards require that the need for ESY services must be considered for every student with a disability at each Individualized Education Program Team meeting. Federal law specifies that the need for ESY services must be determined individually and shall not be provided or denied based solely upon the category of disability or program placement.  

• The new Standards will be integrated into the Administrative Rules for Special Education as part of a new rule set. As a matter of formality, a period of public comment is expected to be made in the fall with public hearings scheduled during November and December. You can expect some minor changes to the wording in the final rules. However the standards won’t change.

• School districts are expected to begin using the Standards immediately.

Addressing Issues Presented By Violent Special Education Students (PDF)
- A special report 2008

The special report “Addressing Issues Presented by Violent Special Education Students” contains the following information:

• Federal and state law regarding removal of violent special education students
• Suspension and/or expulsion from school
• When to call police and/or press charges
• Liability for injury inflicted on other children by a special education student
• Members injured on the job
• Working with the student following injurious behavior
• What to do when faced with aggressive behavior  
  

ESY Services

Special Education Disputes

Part C Proposed State Eligibility

Updated: October 28, 2009 8:23 AM