The following email went to the ASE community on July 30th, 2008:
Subject: ASE: News, Noteworthy, Notable: July 30th, 2008
Attachments: New Child Protection Law.pdf and SpedEx Comm-pass directions.pdf

Dear ASE Community,

Best Regards,
 Carla
 Carla B. Jentz
 Executive Director

******************************************************************************
News , Noteworthy, Notable : July 30th, 2008 

1.  Grants: 

We are informed, by DESE , that  274 Grant Monies continue to be on "hold"  as our new Commissioner for Education , Mitchell Chester reviews spending plans for departments at ESE ; we are further informed, by DESE,  the money may or may not become available at a later date. We recognize the concern this raises for many school districts counting on 274 Grant Money as a resource for LEA' s and Collaboratives for  professional development activities. ASE, in conjunction with MOEC, conveyed the concerns relative to the holding of these funds to the Commissioner.

     We will keep you informed as we learn of updates.

2. (MA)  New Child Protection Law:

     On July 8th, 2008, Governor Patrick signed a new law called " An Act Protecting Children in the Commonwealth( H4905) ";  it has significant changes to child abuse and prevention law in Massachusetts. The following are highlights of the new law:

   1. The Department of Social Services (DSS) is now called  the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
   2.  Creation of a new Office of the Child Advocate  within the Governor's Office wth broad powers to investigate "critical  incidents".....
   3.  Provides criminal penalties for "harboring"a ward of the state, but provides a defense "if the defendant concealed or harbored a child in the reasonable good faith belief that the child would be at risk of physical or sexual abuse if the child returned to his custodial residence."
   4. Improves college benefits for children in foster care.
   5. Increases penalties for failure of mandated reporters to report abuse.

 The comprehensiveness of this law endeavors to strengthen the child welfare system and updates the state's child welfare laws.
 Additional information on the new law is available from MassLive.com . 
  Please see attachment for highlights of the bill. 

3.  HB 547: An Act Relative to Special Education Due Process: 
  
  ASE and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents joined in a written statement of concern opposing HB 547 including a joint meeting with ( MA)  Chairman Robert A. DeLeo ( House Ways Means Committee) . The joint concerns in HB 547 (as drafted) are because it is:

   1. Contrary to the ( Federal Statute) IDEA Reauthorization ( 2004) 
   2. Directly in conflict with the 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Buckhannon Board of Care Home, Inc. v West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
   3. A Bill which would revert to the pre-Buckhannon standard in Massachusetts 
   4. A Bill that would dramatically increase costs to local school districts for legal fees - both the schools and those of parents' attorneys

 HB 547 has the potential for serious unintended consequences to school districts. ASE encourages you to contact Chairman Robert A.  DeLeo ( Robert.DeLeo@state.ma.us) ( fax 617-722-2998)  and your respective Legislators to support the opposition of this bill. 

4. 2008-2009 Schedule :  ASE Statewide Professional Development Conferences; SAVE the Dates:

   With a new era in education/ administration in Massachusetts, the 2008-2009 ASE Statewide Conference Series promises to be dynamic, relevant and timely regarding many topic areas that effect special education administration.  On behalf of the Executive Board, we look forward to seeing you in the new year ;  your voice matters greatly in the advocacy of serving our students .

      Schedule:  ASE Statewide Professional Development Conference Series:

           October 31st, 2008
           March 6th, 2009
           June 12th, 2009

 Please note the 2008-2009 ASE Statewide Professional Development Conferences will take place at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Road West , Marlborough, MA 01752-1883
             (www.rplazahotels.com)

5. DESE Funded Pilot Program: : Special Education Expert Model( SpedEx Model) Piloting the Alternative Model to Resolve Disputes:
    
  ASE, SPEDCO, SpedEx Planning Committee and the Bureau of Special Education Appeals, proudly  announces the SpedEx Model/Pilot Program an innovative program funded by the Department of Education- this model holds great promise in building trust between parents and schools regarding resolving differences of perspective related to complex special education  programs/services.

    Applications are being sought now for:

   a.People to be listed as SpedEx Experts

   b. A neutral entity to be Administrator of this innovative pilot

  Attached are directions for accessing the Comm-pass website- for application ( the SpedEx Expert and Administrator of the Project). 

   We hope you will access the information and consider application as well as to forward the information to friends and colleagues of interest . 

  Additional information regarding the SpedEx Model/Pilot Program is available at the ASE website: www.asepage.org

6. Senate Action  H.R. 3195:  the proposed expansion ( "clarification' of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)):

    ASE and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents joined in a statement to the US Senate to "explicitly exclude public schools from the  reach of any new requirements that may be added to the ADA" .  Further stating that students rights are safe guarded by the provisions of  504 and IDEA Reauthorization 2004 in schools . The unintended /unplanned consequence of not making  explicit  the "exclusion of schools " (in  a new ADA Amendment) holds the  public school community at risk. 

     The overall intention of H.R. 3195 is a positive one for persons with disabilities.

 7. DESE: Potential New Advisory: Team Decision : 

    In recent discussion with DESE, consideration on a new Advisory is underway. ASE foresees within a few weeks DESE will be issuing a new Advisory which will give local districts more flexibility in the determination of students remaining in preschool for an additional year-it is  anticipated the Advisory will give school teams the authority for the determination.

   Additional information will follow when available from DESE.

The following email was sent to the ASE community on Tuesday July 22nd, 2008:
Subject: Time Specific_New Opportunity_SpedEx Model/Pilot Program: Directions to Comm_pass website
Attachtments: Negotiating Comm-pass.pdf

Dear ASE Members and Colleagues,

Please see the attached directions ( received today from Rich Connolly, Director, the Bureau of Appeals) to negotiating the Comm-pass website for information /application regarding the SpedEx Model/Pilot Program _ information sent earlier. This information can also be accessed at the ASE website- www.asepage.org in section titled NEWS with the SpedEx Model/Pilot Program .
We hope the information is helpful as you navigate your way through the Comm-pass website for the SpedEx Model/Pilot Program .

Thank you,

Eder Pires,
ASE Office Assistant

The following email was sent to the ASE community on Tuesday July 22nd, 2008:
Subject: Application Deadline Date inforamtion: Time Specific Opportunity_SpedEx Model/Pilot Program: Innovative Pgram
Attachtments: SpedEx Model.pdf and SpedEx Pilot Project application Process.pdf

Dear ASE Members and Colleagues,

  We have just received notification that the SpedEx Model/Pilot Program( Expert and Administrator) information/application( with number 09BSERC3) will be reposted on the www.comm-pass.com website most likely this week . 

   For your reference- see the following information /attachments sent out previously ( July 19th) .  

   We are very excited by this opportunity and the promise it holds for building trust between parents and schools regarding complex special education matters. We encourage you to forward the information to friends and colleagues .

Thank you,
Carla B. Jentz

The following email was sent to the ASE community on Saturday, July 19th 2008:
Subject: Time Specific: Opportunity: Innovative Dispute Resolution Pilot Program: SpedEx Model
Attachtments: SpedEx Model.pdf and SpedEx Pilot Project application Process.pdf

Dear ASE Members and Colleagues,

    We know that many of you share in the hope and recognize the need for new approaches in working with parents and schools when fundamental differences of perspective occur regarding special education plans/program.

     On behalf of ASE, the SPEDCO Committee, The SpedEx Planning Committee and the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (ESE), we are delighted to announce the launch of an innovative pilot project called SpedEx discussed at Special Education Day Celebration Events over the past three years. We are most appreciative of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) support of this innovative/new approach which fosters trust building between parents and schools.

   This is a time specific process- for your reference, please see the attached documents regarding the SpedEx Model and the SpedEx Pilot Process.

    The Special Education Expert Dispute Resolution Model ( SpedEx) Pilot project, offers ( through a voluntary capacity) a research based dispute resolution approach that targets what the child needs, moves quickly through the process, is child centered, user friendly and provides (as one of the key features of the process) the innovative ( post resolution) child observation conducted by the SpedEx Expert to ensure the student's needs are being met.

   SpedEx is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ( ESE). We are now seeking potential experts and an administrator for the project. Specific information /details about the  pilot project and the process ( application ) is accessed through the following website: www.comm-pass.com

Questions regarding accessing the above website should be directed to Richard Connolly, Director of the Bureau of Special Education Appeals- he can be reached at email : rconnolly@doe.mass.edu.

We encourage and urge you to share this information with friends and colleagues- this is a wonderful new opportunity enhancing collaboration between parents and schools with respect to complex special education matters . The SpedEx Model Pilot Program has the potential for providing students with special education needs greater school successes.

Thank you for all that you do in serving our students and our school communities.

Best regards,
Carla B. Jentz

As of 2008, the ASE Executive Board supports the following:

The Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education (ASE)

The Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education (ASE) supports the following “Guiding Principles of Special Education Administrative Advocacy and Practice:”

 ::::IMPORTANT::::

The following email went out to the ASE destribution list June 13th, 2008:
"Dear ASE Members and Interested Participants,

We write to inform you that the ASE/DSS June 20th Initiative Event, at the Holiday Inn, Marlborough MA, is canceled.

Due to an unforeseen conflict in the schedule of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Chester’s schedule a reschedule date will take place during the first half of the upcoming 2008-2009 school year.

 The new date for the ASE /DSS Initiative will be announced during the summer by email and posted on the ASE Website and accessed in the section titled “NEWS”.
 
 The Commissioners look forward to continuing the partnership between schools and DSS in the mutual effort to better serve students and families and are supportive of creating the conditions for improving collaboration with your participation.

ASE extends very best wishes to Commissioner Chester, our new Commissioner of Education; we welcome him to our school community. We look forward to working with Commissioner Chester and Commissioner McClain and you, in the coming year, on this most important work and essential partnership.

Your input is essential, very much needed and very much valued in the effort to build capacity for school districts and DSS when we mutually serve students and families. We thank all of you who registered for the June 20th Program.

On behalf of ASE, we extend best wishes to you for a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you in the new academic year.

Best regards,

 Paul Stracco, President, ASE                             Carla B. Jentz, Executive Director, ASE"

The following email also went out to the ASE destribution list June 13th, 2008:
Subject: Implementation - Remedy_ Rosie D. v Romney ; Message Secretary Biby and Secretary Designate Education Paul Reville

Dear ASE Members and Interested Participants,

On behalf of ASE, we forward information recently received from Paul Reville , Secretary Designate of Education regarding the implementation of the remedy_ Rosie D. v Romney . Through a partnership with the Executive Office of Education, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and MassHealth, an effort is underway to set the stage for future conversations and collaborations regarding the implementation of the remedy in Rosie D. v Romney. ASE is encouraged by this effort and pleased to have information to forward to you at this time from Secretary Bigby and Secretary Designate of Education Paul Reville.

Please see the attachment regarding important information about well-child and behavioral health services now available through MassHealth. Please review and share with your school staff .
    

 We are anticipating additional information from Secretary Designate of Education Paul Reville, in the coming months and start of the new school year, on the  Rosie D. Remedy effort and how to work together to ensure the best possible care and services for children and youth in the Commonwealth.

ASE will forward all information received and place information on the ASE website accessed in the section titled "NEWS". (ASE website_ www.asepage.org)

Best regards,

   Carla

 Carla B. Jentz,
 Executive Director, ASE

Dear ASE Members and Interested Participants,

On behalf of the Executive Board of ASE, we are pleased to announce the next ASE/DSS Statewide Initiative.   The event will take place on June 20th, 2008 (8:00am – 1:00pm) at the Holiday Inn in Marlborough, Massachusetts. 

The ASE/School Collaborative Effort with DSS has received strong commitment and support from DSS Commissioner Angelo McClain.  Commissioner McLain is dedicated to working collaboratively to support families and students in Massachusetts to achieve better outcomes for school success.  Commissioner McLain will be joined by two of our State’s education leaders.  We are proud to welcome the new Massachusetts' Education Commissioner, Dr. Mitchell Dan Chester to this event.  His attendance, along with Associate Education Commissioner John L.G. Bynoe III, further strengthens the joint efforts between schools and DSS in working together to serve our students.  There are many new and important capacities unfolding within our state government agencies which will require new thinking, new directions and new commitments to interagency and school partnerships.  The June 20th ASE/DSS Statewide Initiative brings renewed hope for continued collaboration and cooperation as we work together to share concerns and find new pathways to meet the needs of our students and families.   We thank Commissioner McClain, Commissioner Chester, and Associate Commissioner Bynoe for their participation and for their strong support of a sustained commitment to collaboration.

With a “new beginning” in state government, this is wonderful opportunity for you and other service providers from your school districts to attend this event.  We encourage you to invite other members of your school community - school guidance/school adjustment counselors and school psychologists to attend and become part of the ASE/DSS Statewide Initiative.  Expanding the capacity for school personnel participation in the process has great potential for more successful outcomes as we work with complex student and family needs. 

Fax registrations directly to the ASE Office (617-354-4926) as soon as possible.  Space will be limited - registrations received after June 11th may not be able to be accommodated.  Attached please find the June 20th program and the registration form.  If needed, the Program and Registration form can be accessed at our ASE website: www.asepage.org/sd.html.

On behalf of DSS Commissioner McClain, ESE Commissioner Chester, and ESE Associate Commissioner Bynoe, we look forward to seeing you at this important event

Sincerely,

Carla B. Jentz,
Executive Director, Massachusetts ASE

Paul Stracco
President, Massachusetts ASE

--> Download the Program and Registration Form

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE)
and The Executive Office Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Joint Effort : 688 Brochure _ Process:

*ESE - formerly- DOE*

The current 688 Brochure (posted on the DOE website) is an outgrowth of collaborative activities with Mass Advocates for Children, by a variety of stakeholders including ASE; the information can be accessed at the following links:

http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/688/brochure.doc
http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.asp?id=3427

OSD FY09 Information: Budget and Planning Purposes:

OSD FY 2009 price information (effective 7/1/08) is available at: Generally, programs have received a 2.47% increase over last year.

The OSD prices for FY09 have been posted on OSD’s website:
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=osdmodulechunk&&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Aosd&b=...

PATRICK-MURRAY BUDGET TO INCLUDE $368
MILLION INCREASE IN EDUCATION AID
FY09 plan includes record amount of school aid, significant early education expansions; follows work of Readiness Project

BOSTON—Tuesday, January 15, 2008—Governor Deval Patrick announced today that his budget for Fiscal Year 2009 will include a $368 million increase in education funding, including a record level of school aid to cities and towns and significant increases in Universal Pre-K, full day Kindergarten and Extended Learning Time programs.

“Our budget will reflect the priority our administration places on providing Massachusetts students with the top quality education opportunities they deserve,” said Governor Patrick. “While the Commonwealth faces tough fiscal challenges in the year ahead, we cannot afford not to invest in strategies that work to help students excel. We are making tough choices necessary to make this targeted investment.”

The Administration’s budget provides $3.9 billion to cities and towns through Chapter 70 state aid, a $223 million increase over FY08 that will result in additional funding for every school district in the Commonwealth.

The Governor’s FY09 proposal to be filed later this month will also include a $51 million expansion for high priority programs including universal pre-K, Kindergarten Expansion Grants and Extended Learning Time Grants.

Key to the Governor’s plan for education reform is an extended school day that affords students the opportunity to participate in enrichment programs and allows teachers more time for planning and coordination. For the second year in a row, the Governor will propose doubling the amount of funding for Extended Learning Time grants, including $26 million total in his FY09 budget. This additional $13 million will allow over 8,900 students to participate in a lengthened school day.

In line with the Governor’s vision for an education system that begins before kindergarten, the FY09 budget will include a $15 million increase in funding for Universal Pre-Kindergarten, a 200 percent increase over FY08. This funding would allow for an estimated 892 new classrooms to prepare roughly 14,320 children for the school years ahead.

The budget also includes $43.2 million to transition an estimated 440 half-day kindergarten programs to full day. This $8 million expansion brings the Commonwealth significantly closer to universal full-day kindergarten. Currently, there are 1,050 half-day kindergarten programs statewide.

While Massachusetts consistently ranks at the top in education nationwide, a persistent achievement gap remains. To address that shortfall, the Governor will propose investing an additional $4.5 million in chronically underperforming schools and districts. This 49 percent increase in funds will allow the Department of Education (DOE) to work with the “Commonwealth Priority Schools” to help students and teachers overcome the significant challenges they face in improving academic performance. The budget will also include an additional $2 million to help close the achievement gap through MCAS Low-Scoring Student Support programs. This additional funding will allow DOE to expand student academic support at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Other education initiatives in the budget include:

• $2 million for dual enrollment programs that allow 2,000 high school students to take college credits while completing their high school education;
• A $1.5 million increase in the METCO program;
• $234 million for the Circuit Breaker, which partially reimburses cities and towns for Special Education residential placement; and
• $81.7 million for Charter School reimbursements

The education-related items included in the Governor’s FY09 budget proposal were informed by the ongoing work of the Readiness Project, a 200-member group of education, business and community leaders established by the Governor last summer to develop a comprehensive 10-year plan to reform the state’s education system. That plan is expected to be completed this spring.

Yesterday, the Governor received an update from the Readiness Project, which included four areas identified by the Readiness Project Leadership Council as areas for ripe for investment in the Governor’s budget. Those areas include: early education and care; expanded teaching and learning time; student progression from high school to higher education, work and society; and the quality and supply of educators and administrative leaders.

“Governor Patrick has charged the Readiness Project to focus not on those things that will bring incremental improvement but rather, on those things that will bring dramatic, widespread improvement over the next 10 years,” said Dana Mohler-Faria, the Governor’s Special Advisor on Education. “We need a clear plan focusing first on what students need to succeed and then on improving the fundamental, systemic levers that will facilitate that success, will ensure that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts continues to be a center of excellence in education.”

The Governor’s entire budget will be filed later this month.

###

ASE Proudly Announces the Co-sponsors for the 2007-2008 ASE Conference Series

Cambridge College
eSped
Kurzweil Educational Systems
MSB/Case e Murphy, Lamere & Murphy, P.C.
Northeastern Institute in Education
Perkins School for the Blind
Public Consulting Group, Inc.
X-2 Development Corporation

ASE is honored to have the sponsorship support from Cambridge College, eSped, Kurzweil Educational Systems, MSB/Case e, Murphy, Lamere & Murphy, P.C., Northeastern Institute of Education, the Perkins School for the Blind, Public Consulting Group, Inc. and X-2 Development Corporation. Each of these organizations provides honorable, credible and effective expertise in their field.

A Very Special Thanks to: Dr. Anthony J. DeMatteo, Dean (Cambridge College), George Dhionis (eSped), Nancy Avery and Cindy Kerrigan (Kurzweil Educational Services), Chris Miroff (MSB/Case e), Mary-Joanne Reedy, Esq. (Murphy, Lamere & Murphy, P.C.), Carol Doherty and Dr. Nancy Mehlem (Northeastern Institute of Education), Christopher Underwood (Perkins School for the Blind), Lorraine McLaughlin (Public Consulting Group, Inc.), Marcy Dwyer Lamlein (X-2 Development Corporation) and to the Board of Directors and/or Partners of each organization for their support to ASE.

March 7th, 2008

(Printable Version)

Revisions ASE By-Laws
At the March 2006 ASE Conference a by-law revision ballot was presented to our voting membership in attendance. By an overwhelming margin (92% For, 8% Against), the revisions noted below have been made to our ASE By-Laws.

Thank you for your input relative to these revisions.

============================================

Additions to Article III Section 1: Members

Defining language added to RETIRED MEMBERSHIP
Added:
Individuals, although retired from municipalities or agencies, who continue to assume special education administrative/supervisory duties via compensation from another agency/company, are not eligible for Retired Membership, but are eligible for Voting, Active or Associate Membership.

Following STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
Added:
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP:
The Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education extend a non-voting “Honorary Membership” to the State Department of Education’s Director of Special Education.

Change in Article III, Section 1:
RETIRED MEMBERS to RETIRED MEMBERSHIP and STUDENT MEMBERS to STUDENT MEMBERSHIP to keep membership language consistent.