2004 Anne Ford Scholarship Competition " Deadline for Applications Draws Near
The application deadline for the 2004 Anne Ford Scholarship is now only two weeks away, and all application materials must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2004 for consideration. The competition is open to a high school senior with an identified learning disability (LD) who plans to pursue a four-year college degree. Financial need will be strongly considered. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

For more information go to:
http://www.ld.org/awards/afscholarinfo.cfm

NCLD Seeks Applicants for the 2004 Pete and Carrie Rozelle Award
The Pete and Carrie Rozelle Award, a $5,000 cash prize, is given to a school or school-related program that addresses the educational and social/emotional needs of all children, including those with learning disabilities. Preference is given to programs for underprivileged and underserved communities or programs that have demonstrated unique impact for students with LD.
For more information go to:
http://www.ld.org/awards/index.cfm

New Poll Shows One-Third of Families have Children with LD or Mental Illness
One in every three American families has had to cope with a child with a learning disability or a mental illness, and most people believe such problems are increasing, according to a poll by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University.

For more information go to:
http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=CHILDPOLL-12-16-03

Public Agenda Releases: I'm Calling My Lawyer: How Litigation, Due Process, and Other Regulatory Processes are Affecting Public Education
In the pilot study, administrators and teachers report that the possibility of being sued or accused of abuse is ever-present in their minds, and administrators report that avoiding suits and fulfilling due process requirements is a time-consuming part of their jobs. The study lists the unique concerns related to special education as one of the most problematic areas for administrators.

For more information go to:
http://www.publicagenda.org/research/pdfs/im_calling_my_lawyer.pdf

NCLB Receives a 2-Year Check-Up
While NCLB has produced one unambiguous result"massive amounts of data on the performance of public schools"a survey compiled by Education Week indicates less progress on other fronts, such as the number of states now testing in the required grades. In addition, many states are still struggling to blend their existing rating system with the new federal system.

For more information go to:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/

The Role of Reading Instruction in Addressing the Overrepresentation of Minority Children in Special Education
According to the International Reading Association's new position statement, a strong collaborative relationship among classroom teachers, school-district curriculum teachers, Title I literacy specialists, and special education teachers is essential for reducing the achievement gap in the United States. The association concludes that it can contribute to the solution by advocating for effective early reading instruction for all children.

For more information go to:
http://www.reading.org/positions/1063.html

Arts and Foreign Language Programs at Risk
A new report by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) reveals that arts and foreign language programs have become marginalized and are at risk of complete elimination from core curriculum. In the report, NASBE makes several recommendations including ensuring adequate time for high-quality professional development and incorporating arts and foreign language learning in the early years into course requirements.

For more information:
http://www.nasbe.org/Research_Projects/Lost_Curriculum.html

NCSET Reports on Teens with Disabilities and Employment
According to a new report from the National Longitudinal Transition Study indicates almost 60% of youth with disabilities are employed, both at work-study and non-school related jobs. Overall, approximately 80% of all youths hold jobs while in high school.

For more information:
http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1310

Fort Worth Star Sun Presents a Series on Dyslexia and Education
The series, presented in three parts, explores compliance with Texas state law, a personal account of a women diagnosed with Dyslexia at age 50 and the benefits of trained teachers and informed parents. The newspaper also offers links to organizations that benefit children with LD in the Texas area.

For more information:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/7636157.htm

Access to the General Curriculum Explained
A brief by the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum explores the 1997 changes to IDEA. Created for parents and educators, the brief explains the meanings of the terms access, involvement, and progress in relation to the general curriculum and discusses ways in which the requirements have the potential to lead to improved educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

For more information:
http://www.cast.org/ncac/index.cfm?i=4673