Policy & Advocacy Committee

1. Policy & Advocacy Committee Kimberly Osmani Chair “The Many Shades of Gray:…… All the Key Policy/Legislation Info You Need to Know to Perform Effectively!” 

2. Points of interest • Introductions • History of Committee • Vision for the Future • Hot Topics in Transition and Employment • WIOA • ESEA/NCLB • HEA • IDEA

3. Who’s who? • Jim Martin, President, DCDT & Director of Zarrow Center & Prof at U. of Oklahoma • Kim Osmani, Transition Coordinator, OK Department of Rehabilitation Services • Stacie Dojonovic, Transition Specialist, Public Schools in Pittsburgh, PA • Dale Matusevich, Transition Coordinator, DE State Department of Education • Jane Razeghi, Executive Director, DCDT

4. Our Wishful thinking for this session • Commit to knowing policy & legislation that helps you make a difference at any level! • Consider becoming a member of DCDT’s Policy & Advocacy Committee!!! • Have fun & make friends along the way……especially with a little wine & cheese!

5. The many shades of gray… • History of the Policy & Advocacy Committee.. • (formerly known as the Governmental Relations or Affairs Committee) • Transition services, etc. for students & youth with disabilities didn’t used to be in the legislation (DCDT helped make that happen) • Testifying, testimony, letters…….meetings on the hill!

6. Vision for the future… • A fully functioning, active Policy & Advocacy Committee that influences policy at several levels: • National (capitol hill; CEC) • State • Local

7. How legislation & policy have made a difference • In PA……………... • In DE………… • In OK………… • Nationally………….

8. Some interesting hot topics… • WIOA • Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) • HEETA (formerly HEA) • IDEA

9. Workforce innovation and opportunity act (WIOA) 2014 Reauthorization (had been 15 years) • Competitive Integrated Employment (compensation and benefits) • Student v. Youth and 15% of funds for Pre-Employment Transition Services • Collaboration, partnerships, teamwork for coordinated services • Subminimum wage, contracts, sheltered employment (July 22, 2016) • Awaiting final regulations (late spring 2016)

10. Esea (info and update from cec) 2015 House vs Senate – Total Opposites Where are we in the legislative process? (waiting for) Passage by House & Passage by Senate Education Committee Education Committee

11. ESEA Reauthorization (CEC update) • Student Success Act (HR 5) – passed July 8, 2015 (218-213) CEC opposed, as did most of the disability community • Every Child Achieves Act (S 1177) – passed July 16, 2015 CEC supported many provisions & opposed many provisions

12. Examples of CEC’s Selected ESEA Reauthorization Conference Recommendations • Maintain • Accountability or students with disabilities • Provisions on discipline • Personnel qualifications • Fiscal resources • Focus • Professional development • High ability students • Prohibition on Title I portability issues & vouchers

13. Higher Education and Employment transparency act (HEetA) • Expired at end of 2013 and introduced to the House in March 2015 • H.R.1573 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) • Student loans, Pell for low and middle income, teacher preparation and disadvantaged students • Streamlining and easing financial aid process • Forming work groups on: accreditation, accountability, affordability and financial aid, and sexual assault and safety

14. Higher ed employment transparency act (HeEtA) • Republican focus: • empowering students to make informed decisions • simplifying and improving student aid • promoting innovation • increasing access and completion • ensuring strong accountability while limiting the federal role • Concern that ESEA issues delay this as well

15. Individuals with disabilities education act (iDEA) •  S.130 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) • Full Funding Act with intent to increase funding each year until 2025 when funded at 100% • Now is the time to prepare

16. A Very Important Partner…. Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in Arlington, VA!!! Go to: www.cec.sped.org Thanks to Deb Ziegler, CEC’s Director of Policy & Advocacy… • Policy Insider Blog • CEC Policies & Positions • CEC Action Network (Kim is DCDT’s rep to that)

17. Resources Available Through the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Issue briefs on a couple of hot topic areas in special and gifted education that you may find interesting and helpful.  https://www.cec.sped.org/Policy-and-Advocacy/Current-Sped-Gifted-Issues/Issue-Briefs • Early Childhood • School Climate & Mental Health

18. Resources Available Through the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) • In addition, some resources on the annual budget and CEC’s requests re appropriations. https://www.cec.sped.org/~/media/Files/Policy/Current%20Sped%20Issues%20Home/Federal%20Outlook%202016%20FINAL.pdf

19. Resources Available Through the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)www.cec.sped.org

20. More CEC Resources – www.cec.sped.org • CEC Professional Policies and Positions • Recent Policies • CEC's Position and Background Information on Special Education Teacher Evaluation • CEC's Position on Special Education Teacher Evaluation(position only)  • CEC's Policy on Children with Exceptionalities in Charter Schools • CEC's Position on School Vouchers • CEC's Policy on Physical Restraint and Seclusion Procedures in School Settings

21. More CEC Resources – www.cec.sped.org • CEC Professional Policies and Positions • Recent Policies • CEC's Policy on Safe and Positive School Climate • CEC's Position on Response to Intervention • CEC's Policy on Assessment and Accountability • CEC's Policy on Exit Exams for Students with Exceptionalities • CEC's Definition of a Well-Prepared Special Education Teacher • CEC's Policy on Academic Subject Matter Content of the General Curriculum and Special Educators

22. More CEC Resources – www.cec.sped.org • CEC's Policy Manual • CEC Policy Manual • Special Education in the Schools • Administrative and Fiscal Identity • Special Education and the Community Outside the Education System

23. More CEC Resources – www.cec.sped.org • CEC's Policy Manual • Community-Based Services • Special Education's Responsibilities to Adults with Disabilities • Take Action! • Member Resources Hub • Forgot password? Remember Me • Not a member yet? Join

24. What Do You Think Are Today’s Hot topics (Policy and/or Legislation)? • Check with the person on either side of you, front and back • Discuss what you’d like to see happening in transition services that could become policy or legislation • Share with whole group!

25. How Would YouLike DCDT’s Policy & Advocacy Committee to Function? • State reps? • Meetings at both DCDT & CEC? • Monthly phone conferences? • Articles in DCDT newsletters & other publications? • Other thoughts & suggestions…

26. The Many Shades of Gray…… Policy & Legislation are truly fascinating…. • DCDT’s Policy & Advocacy Committee is expected to do a number of things, such as…. • Communicate “hot topics” to • DCDT’s Executive Committee & Board • DCDT’s State Subdivisions • Prepare suggestion testimony and/or policy statements on relevant topics for DCDT and possibly present testimony

27. Future Vision • Communicating with you between now & April 2016 to determine if DCDT needs to be “heard” on certain hot topics or legislation; • Bring concerns & issues to the DCDT Executive Committee & Board for further action by membership (when required) • See you all again at the DCDT Policy & Advocacy Committee Meeting in April, 2016 CEC Convention in St Louis (?)

28. In the meantime…. • Sign-up to become a committee member….. • Introduce yourself to at least 1 other person at this session whom you don’t know…. • Enjoy the wine & cheese! Thank you for attending!