May 5, 2017
This week, the federal budget deal included an additional $90 million in special education funding for the remainder of fiscal year 2017. While the extra funding is certainly something to celebrate, Medicaid cuts included in the health care bill that the House passed on Thursday pose major threats to school districts that rely heavily on […]
April 28, 2017
This week brought good news for NYC children and their families, with Mayor Bill de Blasio announcing the extension of free full-day PreK programs for all 3-year-olds. But do these programs work? A new report explores that question. In other news, teacher shortages remain a real issue, especially in special education and there’s no easy-fix. […]
April 21, 2017
In light of Autism Awareness month, today we bring you a story about how to distinguish common autism behaviors and how to respond to them. In addition, we share findings published in the journal Autism, which suggests behavioral interventions can dramatically reduce elopement in kids with developmental disabilities. In other news, a recent study looks […]
April 14, 2017
A research report out this week suggests that for every $1 spent on social emotional learning (SEL) initiatives, there’s an $11 return on investment, providing further evidence that SEL should be a focus point for schools. In other news, legislation introduced to Congress aims to make ABLE Act savings accounts more accessible and flexible for […]
April 13, 2017
This month we light it up blue in celebration of World Autism Month and to promote greater understanding and acceptance of those on the spectrum. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating ASD’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States, research into early detection and treatment continues to grow. In the past few months alone, […]
April 3, 2017
The spring conference season is upon us, which means lots of travel, networking and professional development opportunities for educators everywhere. We’ve rounded up some of the biggest education conferences below. Mark your calendars and reach out if you’d like to meet with Accelify at any of the events we plan on attending. CoSN 2017 Annual Conference […]
March 31, 2017
Ever wonder where school bullying happens the most? This week we bring you a report that looks to answer that question and the results may surprise you. Another study this week finds parents of kids on the spectrum spend less time together than couples with typically-developing children. In other news, a campaign aimed to reduce […]
March 29, 2017
Last week, in notably the most significant special education case to hit the Supreme Court in decades, the decision was made to set a stricter standard for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandate that students with disabilities be provided a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Specifically, the ruling states that public schools must […]
March 10, 2017
What a week! In a breakthrough study, researchers have identified yet another possible Autism biomarker that can predict which children will develop autism. In other news, Texas made major leaps in special ed reform, with the Texas Commissioner of Education announcing that the TEA intends to eliminate the special education enrollment indicator of 8.5 percent […]
March 3, 2017
Late last week, NPR put out great data on the nation’s 5 million English Language Learners (ELLs). Check it out below. On the accessibility front, NYC has pledged to release detailed information regarding how accessible the city’s high schools are, a big step in helping parents choose appropriate schools for their children with physical disabilities. […]