Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN): We're excited to feature RIPIN’s "Link With Your Community Guide," an invaluable resource to inspire parent centers! This interactive PDF, shared by RIPIN's Nathan Markley through the Youth Leadership Council, is designed to discover accessible places, events, and activities in Rhode Island.

Region A Drop-In Call: The next Drop-in call will take place on Tuesday, September 3, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, EST. Our featured technical assistance presenter will be Heather George, Co-Director of the National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) focused on improving behavioral outcomes in schools through evidence-based strategies. Heather George will be sharing insights and updates on PBIS initiatives and practices. Join the call.

The challenges for transition age youth with mental illness and their families – Part 2: On July 15 at 2:00 pm EST, RAISE and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) hosted part 2 of an overview of the many issues that occur when youth reach the legal age of consent and enter the “Transition Age Youth” period – often referred to as a “black hole” in terms of services. NAMI guided participants on using various tools to ease the transition for youth in their care and shared new resources developed by NAMI’s Youth and Young Adults team to support families. Find the recording here.

Region A Parent Center Convening: Building Parent Center Capacity to Serve Military-Connected & Native American Families: Join us for a 2-day virtual training for Region A Parent Centers on September 17 and 18 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm EST, including a 15 minute break. This event focuses on enhancing outreach and services to Military-Connected and Native American families. It aims to build our Community of Practice, supporting and encouraging innovative thinking through collaboration and information sharing. Following this event, additional web-based meetings and peer-to-peer TA will be available to further strengthen your center’s capacity. Find more information on the event details here. Thank you for your cooperation!

OSEP 2024 Leadership & Project Directors’ Conference: The agenda is now live! The conference will be held from August 6-8 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA. The theme is "Early Beginnings to Bright Futures." A Parent Center meeting with OSEP leadership is scheduled for August 6, from 1:45 to 3:15 pm. Access the 2024 OSEP Conference agenda here.

CPIR Calendar: Don’t forget to check out the HUB Central Events calendar at the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) for more webinars and events. Also contact Myriam Alizo, malizo@spanadvocacy.org to add your Parent Center event to the CPIR calendar.

Effective Leadership Styles in Non Profit Organizations: Read this brief piece that summarizes four non-profit leadership styles: Servant Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Transactional Leadership, and Charismatic Leadership.

Putting Participants at the Center of Managing and Leading Nonprofits: Participants are not simply the intended beneficiaries of nonprofit programs. Their organizational experience, in addition to their program experience, should guide nonprofit management to achieve more meaningful social impact. Read this article in the Stanford Innovation Review.

Video Gaming 101: Healthy vs Problematic Gaming: Video gaming has become part of the fabric of daily life for youth, with 85% of teens in the United States reporting that they play video games in 2024 (and 41% playing daily). The Children and Screens resource delves into video gaming, clarifying what constitutes healthy versus problematic behavior. The guide helps identify signs of excessive gaming and encourages a balanced, constructive approach to gaming for children. Check it out here.

12 Values Exercises for Teams: Check out Indeed’s post on values exercises for teams, group activities related to your business's values. Values exercises often ask team members to think critically about their values, thoughts and behaviors both by themselves and as a group. The goal of the values exercise may be to create, explore, alter or reinforce values. Read more.

Why is there an Absenteeism Pandemic in US Schools: The CNN video discusses the rise in absenteeism in U.S. schools post-pandemic. It explores how the pandemic disrupted education, leading to increased student absences, and highlights the ongoing challenges schools face in addressing this issue. The video also examines the impact of absenteeism on students' academic performance and the efforts being made to re-engage students in their education. For more details, watch the video on CNN's website.

How does exiting English learner status impact multilingual students’ achievement and attainment? The HEDCO Institute for Evidence-Based Educational Practice blog discusses how reclassifying English learners (ELs) affects their academic performance and graduation rate. The blog concludes that reclassification has minimal impact on test scores and graduation rates, emphasizing the importance of support during the transition. Once reclassified, former EL students no longer receive specialized services. For more information, learn more here.

7 Ways to Deal With Bullying at Summer Camp: The STOMP Out Bullying blog highlights its summer camp initiative, which provides a supportive environment for children to develop resilience and positive relationships while combating bullying. The camp offers activities designed to empower youth and build a strong community. Learn more about how these programs are structured and their impact on participants. For details, visit the blog here.

​​Child Welfare Terms, English to Spanish: The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a bilingual resource with essential child welfare terms in both English and Spanish. Designed to support professionals and families, this guide offers clear translations and definitions. Access this valuable tool to enhance understanding and communication. Find the resource here.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Blocks Nation's First Religious Public Charter: The EdLaw Center reports on the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision to block the nation's first religious public charter school. This ruling is significant in the ongoing debate over the separation of church and state in education. For more details on the case and its implications, read the full article here.

Resources for Protecting Students with Disabilities in K12 and Higher Education: The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights released three new resources for protecting students with sickle cell disease, epilepsy, and cancer. The resources inform students with disabilities, their families, and schools, about relevant legal rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities by institutions that accept financial assistance, which includes almost all public schools and public and private institutions of higher education.

• Section 504 Protections for Students with Sickle Cell Disease
• Section 504 Protections for Students with Epilepsy
• Section 504 Protections for Students with Cancer

New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities Cultural and Linguistic Competence Modules: The following two modules were created by the Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence for the Improving Diversity, Equity, Cultural Competency, and Linguistic Responsiveness project at the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, led by SPAN Parent Advocacy Network. Learn more.

US Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection: The US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights administers the Civil Rights Data Collection. Check out the most recent data and report.

“I’m Watching You” behavior produces racial disparities in school discipline: The Notre Dame article highlights how teacher surveillance disproportionately affects Black boys in school discipline, leading to harsher and more frequent punishments compared to their white peers. This behavior, driven by biased perceptions, perpetuates systemic inequalities and negatively impacts the educational experiences and opportunities of Black students. 'It is important to understand how race and racism shape children’s earliest school experiences.' For more details, read the full article here.

Actions to Eliminate Special Education Hearing Delays: The EdLaw Center announces an approved class-action settlement aimed at addressing delays in special education hearings in New Jersey. This settlement seeks to expedite the process and improve access to timely resolutions for students and families. For more information on the settlement and its impact, read the full article here: Approved Class Action Settlement Aims to Eliminate NJ Special Education Hearing Delays You can read about delays in implementing hearing decisions in NYC.

How to Prevent Students From Dropping Out: When high school and college students leave school without diplomas or degrees, it becomes harder for them to earn substantial salaries, live healthy lives, and access opportunities. While dropout rates among some student populations have decreased over the last decade, millions of learners still do not complete their programs of study each year. This guide examines why students drop out, explores ways to support them, and provides information on helpful resources. Check it out here.

Preschool Curriculum Use and Exposure to and Home Language and Culture: The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) explores preschool curriculum use and its impact on home language and culture in their latest research. This study examines how preschool programs incorporate and reflect the diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds of students. Given that federal policies and professional organization recommendations on curriculum have not changed significantly since 2010, current curriculum adoption is likely to remain similar. For a detailed look at the findings, access the full report here.

Resources on Parent Rights under ESSA: The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)/Every Student Succeeds Act includes numerous rights for parents. Check out the National PTA resources.

National Center on Inclusion Toward Rightful Presence: Are you familiar with the work of the SWIFT Center and its National Center on Inclusion Toward Rightful Presence? The Center’s Purpose is to:

• assist with implementation of practices that move school systems toward rightful presence for students who are too often kept at the margins.
• embrace the full humanity and culture of students with intensive cognitive needs, and provide them high-quality academic instruction aligned with general education standards, delivered among grade-level peers.

Here is a brief video on Rightful Presence.

Support for foster parents: Foster parents can find guidance on facilitating reunification efforts in this resource. Learn about strategies for helping children successfully transition back to their biological families and discover practical tips for ensuring stability and positive outcomes during the process here.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Adapting to Kinship Care: Next Avenue provides insights into the challenges and rewards of grandparents raising their grandchildren. This article covers the unique dynamics and support systems needed for grandparents in this role. For a comprehensive look at their experiences and strategies, read the full piece here.

Recourse for Parents Whose Children’s Medicaid Services at Home and in the Community Are Reduced or Eliminated When the Parent Signs Consent for the School to Bill Medicaid for School-Based Services: IDEA protects children and families from losing any benefits as a result of signing consent for the school to bill Medicaid for Medicaid-eligible students with disabilities receiving related services in school. But what is the recourse if children’s Medicaid services at home or in the community are reduced or eliminated after the school starts billing Medicaid for school-based services? The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently responded to this question posed by National PLACE: “This question is addressed by one of the Medicaid SBS FAQs available on the Medicaid.gov website, "How can we ensure that Managed Care Plans (MCPs) are appropriately applying rules around students accessing medically necessary services while also guarding against duplicating services? Could CMS provide clarification on the rules to prevent the potential loss of valuable community- and home-based services for children?". The answer explains that, "If the MCP is inappropriately disqualifying or decreasing medically necessary services, the State should remind the MCP of its contractual obligations. If the MCP is denying authorization for medically necessary services or decreasing the authorization of these medically necessary services, that would constitute an adverse benefit determination for which appeal rights are granted under Medicaid." This FAQ is available here.

In addition, care coordination and ensuring access to services were discussed during the Intersection of Medicaid Managed Care and SBS webinar on May 23. The slides, recording, and summary handout from this webinar are available here.

Millions remain unspent in federal dollars for homeless students - and time is running out: Federal funds designated for homeless students are at risk of expiring due to slow distribution and bureaucratic delays. These funds are vital for supporting the educational needs of homeless students, but obstacles have hindered their effective allocation. Efforts are being made to accelerate the process and ensure that the funds are used before the deadline, preventing the potential loss of crucial resources for vulnerable students. Read more here.

FAFSA Update for Homeless or Unaccompanied Youth: Section 480(d)(8) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), provides that an applicant for Title IV federal student aid is an independent student—that is, an applicant who does not need to provide parental information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form—if the applicant is an unaccompanied homeless youth or unaccompanied and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness. This announcement reminds institutions of their roles and responsibilities related to dependency determinations for unaccompanied homeless youth for Title IV federal student aid as provided by the FAFSA Simplification Act and described in Dear Colleague Letter GEN-23-06. Check it out here.

How Schools Can Use AI to Lighten the Load for Special Education Teachers: Discover how artificial intelligence can transform support for special education teachers by simplifying administrative tasks and offering personalized learning tools. Various AI tools are designed to ease the workload for educators, allowing them to focus more on individualized instruction and student engagement. Read more here.

How immigration is helping the economy defy expectations: The Hill article explores how immigration is fueling economic growth in the U.S. by expanding the labor force, addressing job shortages, and fostering innovation. Immigrants play a crucial role in driving economic resilience and supporting overall expansion. Find the article here

CentersConnect Inclusion space: Have you taken the opportunity to check out the Inclusion space on CentersConnect? Cindy Duch from the PEAL Parent Center posts interesting and informative resources weekly. Check it out and share with your staff!

New Report on School Police and its impact on arrests: The 74 Million report reveals that the presence of school police has led to a doubling of student arrest rates. Key factors influencing these rates include race and gender, highlighting significant disparities in how disciplinary actions are applied across different student demographics, read more here.

Providing Culturally Competent Mental Health Care to LGBTQIA+ Youth & Young Adults: This resource offers strategies for mental health professionals to deliver culturally competent care to LGBTQIA+ individuals, focusing on understanding and addressing their unique needs and challenges in mental health settings. Check it out here.

Now in Its Second Year, 988 Lifeline Continues to Help Millions of People: Since 988’s launch in July 2022, counselors have answered more than 10 million calls, texts, and chats from people seeking help with suicidal thoughts and mental health and substance use-related crises. Of the 10 million contacts answered in the past two years, 1.7 million were texts. In the past 12 months, 988 answered 51% more texts compared to the previous year. Learn more here.

USDOE landing page for Veterans and Military connected students: The U.S. Department of Education’s page for veterans and military families outlines the various educational resources and support services available to them. Find information on programs designed to assist with accessing higher education, financial aid, and career development tailored specifically for veterans and their families here.

Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans: Finding data on Native Americans can be challenging. This month's resource is a December 2018 Brief presented to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. It includes recent population data, details on Native Hawaiians, and information on housing, health care, public safety, and education (see page 95). It’s a valuable tool for understanding Government-to-Government relationships with Tribal communities. Find it here.

PTA Center for Family Engagement: The National PTA has a Center for Family Engagement. Check out their resources on transforming family engagement, including a webinar series.

Why Poverty in the US is Rising: The expiration of government support wasn’t the only reason poverty rose dramatically last year. Inflation and an overall increased cost of living created new financial challenges for families. Read more.

Bridgeport-area special ed students restrained, secluded at higher rates, advocates say in complaint: The CT Post article covers a project where Bridgeport and Stratford students explore civil rights history through a local lens. The initiative involves research and presentations on the impact of civil rights movements in their communities, aiming to deepen students' understanding of historical and contemporary social justice issues. Read the article here.

Students in Santa Maria Schools to Learn Social-Emotional Skills in New Program: The video highlights a new program being implemented in Santa Maria Schools that focuses on teaching social-emotional skills to students. The program includes structured activities and lessons designed to foster emotional intelligence and resilience. By integrating these skills into the school curriculum, the district hopes to enhance students' overall well-being and academic success. Check out the video here.

Are Schools and Edtech Companies Ready for the Digital Accessibility Deadline? In April, the U.S. Department of Justice published its final rule for web and mobile accessibility. It updated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires state and local governments to supply equal opportunity — including in services like public schools, community colleges, and public universities — for people with disabilities. Read on to understand how the update aims to expand access by specifying the technical standards government entities must follow. Read more.

Colleges Have a Responsibility To Support Students With Intellectual Disabilities: Colleges and universities nationwide continue to grapple with demographic shifts, fiscal challenges, and the lasting impacts of the pandemic. Amid these larger societal forces, many higher education institutions are focusing considerable attention and resources on improving access and affordability for their students. Institutions are creating new opportunities for adult learners, veterans, international students, and other previously underserved populations. Learn more about these efforts and their impacts here.

Stress in America 2023: A Nation Recovering from Collective Trauma: The COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts, racism and racial injustice, inflation, and climate-related disasters are all weighing on the collective consciousness of Americans. The national public health emergency around COVID-19 officially ended on May 11, 2023, and while the return to “normal” has been celebrated by many, results from the most recent Stress in America™ survey paint a different picture. Psychologists with APA say a superficial characterization of day-to-day life being more normal is obscuring the posttraumatic effects that have altered our mental and physical health. When reviewing last year’s survey data, APA psychologists widely agreed there is mounting evidence that our society is experiencing the psychological impacts of collective trauma. Read more.