August 2026
“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody
can take it away from you.”
– B.B King
Welcome to August’s edition of the Buzz from the Hub! The new school year is right around the corner, and whether you’re buying backpacks, filling out forms, or preparing for that first IEP meeting of the year, we know this season can feel both exciting and overwhelming. We hope this month’s resources help you feel informed, supported, and ready to advocate for your child.
As you continue caring for yourself and those around you, we hope you find the resources in this edition of the Buzz helpful and encouraging. This month’s resources include:
- Featured Resource: What Are Assessments?
- Early Childhood : Development Milestones
- Education Policy: Back-to-School Resources
- Youth/Students: AT Guidance Myths & Facts
- Young Adults: Working…You Can Do It!
- Family Engagement/Parent Leadership: Math of Food
Finally, don’t miss the upcoming virtual events in the Upcoming Events section.
Best wishes and happy reading,
The CPIR Team
Featured Resource!
What Are Assessments?
As the new school year begins, you may start hearing the word “assessment” a lot — but what exactly does it mean? Assessment refers to how schools gather evidence of student learning. Put more simply, assessment is when students show what they know and can do. And it’s not just multiple-choice tests! Any school activity — a presentation, an art project, or even a class discussion — can be an assessment when a teacher uses it to understand what a student has learned.
This page on the CPIR website walks families through the different types of assessments students may encounter, from state academic assessments required under ESSA to classroom-level evaluations. It explains how results are shared with families, how schools and policymakers use data to make decisions, and why it’s important that ALL students — including those with disabilities — participate. Assessment information helps teachers improve instruction, helps families track their child’s progress, and helps schools better serve every child.
Visit the What Are Assessments? page to learn more and start the school year feeling prepared and informed.
Shareable Resources
Early Childhood |
Understanding Child Development Milestones
Every child grows and develops at their own pace, but there are common developmental milestones that can help families and professionals understand what to expect as children learn new skills. This resource provides an overview of typical developmental milestones from infancy through early childhood, explains the wide range of typical development, and offers guidance for recognizing when a child may benefit from additional support. It’s a valuable resource for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone interested in supporting healthy child development.
Visit the Developmental Milestones page to learn more.
Education Policy |
Back-to-School: Costs, Tips, and Managing the Stress
Back-to-school season brings excitement — and for many families, it also brings real financial pressure and new emotional challenges. From rising supply and lunch costs affected by tariffs to helping children manage the nerves that come with a new school year, there is a lot for families to think about this time of year.
This month’s Education Policy resources offer practical guidance on all fronts. Get the facts on how tariffs are impacting back-to-school shopping costs, find 11 research-backed ways to help your child start the school year strong, and access expert tips on supporting kids through back-to-school stress and anxiety.
Students |
AT Guidance Myths & Facts
There are many misconceptions about assistive technology (AT) who needs it, what it can do, and how it works in a school setting. The Center for Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES) at CAST has developed a collection of graphics and tools specifically designed to help educators, school leaders, and families clear up some of the most common misunderstandings about AT.
Whether you’re a parent advocating for your child’s access to technology, or an educator looking to better support students with disabilities, the AT Guidance Myths & Facts resource is a clear and accessible starting point. These tools help separate fact from fiction so that everyone on a student’s team can make well-informed decisions.
Explore the AT Guidance Myths & Facts resource here.
Young Adults |
Working…You Can Do It!
Thinking about entering the workforce can feel like a big leap — but it doesn’t have to be scary. This factsheet from PEATC was created for young people with disabilities who are beginning to explore what it means to have a job. It’s okay to be nervous, and this resource is a gentle, encouraging reminder that there are people and systems in place to help.
The Competitive Integrated Employment factsheet uses simple, visual language to introduce key concepts around employment for youth — covering available supports, the importance of competitive integrated employment, and an encouraging message for students who are just starting to think about their future in the workforce.
Download the Working…You Can Do It! factsheet here.
Family Engagement |
Math of Food
Did you know that everyday activities like cooking dinner and grocery shopping are packed with math? The Math of Food program, created by the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) and the Center for Family Math, explores the everyday math concepts hidden in food traditions, cultural cooking, and the grocery store aisle. Topics include fractions, ratios, and measurements — all brought to life through the foods and traditions families already know and love.
As a new school year begins, this is a wonderful way to make learning feel natural and joyful at home. Math doesn’t only happen in a classroom — it happens at the dinner table too.
Check out Family Math Resources to explore how your kitchen can become a classroom.
Upcoming Events
How is my child reading?
Do you worry about your child’s reading? This workshop will give you a better understanding of how children learn to read. You will learn the type of questions to ask your child’s teacher and how to partner with the school on reading improvement. Do not miss this workshop to learn about the strategies that help children become good readers!
Date: August 25, 2026
Time: 8:00 – 9:00 pm EST
Register Here.
Beyond High School: Inclusive Postsecondary Education Options and How Students Can Prepare
This webinar will introduce inclusive postsecondary education, describe the range of college options beyond high school, and examine how professionals who support transition-age youth can help students build skills, explore programs, and prepare for successful college participation.
Date: September 21, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm EST
Register Here.
the Hub Central Event Calendar
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