“Knowledge is a tool, and like all tools, its impact is in the hands of the user.”
— Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol
Greetings to you!
2022 is sure off and running. We have lots of news to share with you in this Buzz, including Spanish versions of OSEP’s series of Return to School Roadmaps; how states are using funding from the American Rescue Plan to address COVID-19’s impact on schools, staff, and students; and transition-related info you can share with schools and the families you serve.
Our best to you,
The CPIR Team
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Return to School Roadmaps now available in Spanish
The U.S. Department of Education released its series of Return to School Roadmaps in the summer and fall of 2021. Now it has posted Spanish versions of each roadmap in the series–which we are pleased to list below.
Letter to Special Education and Early Intervention Partners [ English | Español ]
Child Find, Referral, and Eligibility Under Part C [ English | Español ]
Provision of Early Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families [ English | Español ]
Child Find Under Part B of IDEA [ English | Español ]
Development and Implementation of IEPs in the LRE [ English | Español ]
What’s the Education Plan (and Funding) in Your State?
Federal Funding Support Specifics
In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law. It included $122 billion for states and school districts to help safely reopen and operate schools and address the impact of the pandemic on students. Want to know more about ARP funding for your state? How about what your state proposed to do with those funds? Find out at the link above, posted by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education.
The Department’s January 2022 press release on the approval of all state plans and the distribution of funds to states highlights what SEAs and school districts are doing to address the urgent needs of their schools with ventilation improvements, staff hiring and retention, mental health services, high-dosage tutoring programs, after-school and summer learning partnerships, and more.
Support for COVID-19 Screening Testing in Schools
Heard of the ELC at the CDC? In April 2021, it awarded $10 billion from the ARP on behalf of CDC to 62 recipients to support COVID-19 screening testing and other mitigation activities in K–12 schools for teachers, staff, and students. Use the USA map to find out about the screening programs and plans in your state. Funding is available through July 31, 2022.
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On Transition to Adulthood
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Toolkit
This toolkit is a resource for educational and vocational rehabilitation agencies in improving post-school employment outcomes for students with disabilities. It’s meant to facilitate the collaboration necessary to implement Secondary Transition services across agencies at the state, community, and student levels and increase the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs). From NTACT, the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition.
Pros and Cons of Disclosing a Disability to Employers
(Also available in Spanish: Ventajas y desventajas de revelar a los empleadores que tiene una discapacidad)
Starting a new job can make teens and young adults feel excited, independent, and maybe nervous. They’re expected to learn new skills and routines, interact with new people, and make decisions. One of the biggest decisions is whether to tell their employer about any learning and thinking differences.
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Center for Parent Information and Resources
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Publication of this eNewsletter is made possible through Cooperative Agreement H328R180005 between OSEP and the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government or by the Center for Parent Information and Resources.