Research & Policy News
Research CornerParticipate in ResearchCheck back for opportunities!
Posting ResearchWe support research that will provide reliable, useful information that is aligned with the mission of CEC and that we determine will help the teaching profession and/or the field of special education move forward. Your research must be vetted by an IRB and we require documentation of approval.
We review requests for posting research opportunities on a monthly basis. We reserve the right to determine that research does not align with our mission, vision or goals. If we determine your research is aligned with our requirements, you will see it posted on our website; in most cases, due to the volume of requests we receive, we will not be able to respond to individual inquiries. To begin the process, please provide evidence of IRB approval to massachusettscec@gmail.com with the subject line 'Last Name: Request for Research Assistance.' 
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Policy UpdatesWe provide updates on special education legislation and policy to help our members stay current. See below for updates from Liam Rutter-Stokes, our Children's Action Network Coordinator!
Students Across the State Lead Gun Violence Prevention InitiativesThroughout March and April, students across the state lead walk-outs, days of silence, and marches to shed light on the importance of gun control following the tragedy that occurred in Parkland, Florida. Families, schools, and communities used their collective voice to send a powerful message to legislators in our state, as well as nationally, demanding stricter gun-control laws.
For more information: MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence WBUR Edify State Senate Passes a Supplemental Spending Bill of $156mThe Massachusetts State Senate passed a supplemental spending bill, with an increase of $12.5 million increase to school districts to aide in providing education to students with disabilities. The bill also provides assistance to programs aimed at providing supports to homeless families.
For more information: U.S News Group Fined for “Dark Money” Infusion Into Pro-Charter Side in Last Year’s Question 2 Ballot InitiativeFamilies for Excellent Schools-Advocacy has been fined $425,000 for raising $15 million dollars from individuals and donating it to Great Schools MA in a manner that disguised donors during last year’s Question 2 ballot initiative. The ballot initiative, which sought to raise the cap on the number of charter schools within the state, failed.
For more information: WBUR Edify |
Across the Nation
Civil Rights Data Collection Report Released: Disproportionality Persists |
Trump Abandons Education Budget Slashes: Congress Increases Funding |
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The Education Department recently released its report on civil rights data across the country. The report indicated that students with disabilities continue to be disproportionately suspended, expelled, or arrested at higher rats when compared to their peers. Further, students with disabilities accounted for 71% of all restraints in school settings, and 66% of those who were secluded at school. The report also asserts that students of color continue face inequality; many lack access to advanced STEM courses, attend schools with strong police presence, and are more likely to become involved with the juvenile justice system.
For more information U.S DOE |
President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2018 that aimed at cutting funding to many essential programs, while creating two new school-choice programs was overturn in Congress earlier in March. The president signed into law a budget that included a $2.6 billion increase in the education department's budget. Funding for Title I, special education, career and technical programs, and educator development all increased under the new budget.
For more information: U.S DOE |
U.S Supreme Court Hands Down a Massive Decision Regarding FAPE in the Case of
Endrew F v. Douglas County School District
Last year, a case sought the Supreme Court’s guidance on what level of educational benefit school districts are required to provide students with disabilities with. Advocates argued that setting higher standards for educational benefit for students with disabilities would lead to greater levels of academic progress. Opponents cited fears of budgetary strains and litigation.
The Court's Decision:
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that schools must offer students with disabilities an education reasonably calculated to enable them to "make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances"
Background of the case
Endrew F. had been enrolled in a CT public school. By the 4th grade he struggled to make progress in the general curriculum. His family became concerned when IEP goals were mostly unchanging year to year, and enrolled him in a private school where his family reported him as thriving. When the family requested reimbursement from the school district (Douglas County) they were denied. The family sued the district, citing that their son had been denied FAPE. The federal court ruled in favor of the district, claiming that under IDEA, districts are only required to provide educational benefit that is merely de minis (non-trivial). The case is now being heard by the U.S Supreme Court.
Arguments made by the Prosecution:
For more information:
SCOTUS Blog
The Court's Decision:
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that schools must offer students with disabilities an education reasonably calculated to enable them to "make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances"
Background of the case
Endrew F. had been enrolled in a CT public school. By the 4th grade he struggled to make progress in the general curriculum. His family became concerned when IEP goals were mostly unchanging year to year, and enrolled him in a private school where his family reported him as thriving. When the family requested reimbursement from the school district (Douglas County) they were denied. The family sued the district, citing that their son had been denied FAPE. The federal court ruled in favor of the district, claiming that under IDEA, districts are only required to provide educational benefit that is merely de minis (non-trivial). The case is now being heard by the U.S Supreme Court.
Arguments made by the Prosecution:
- IDEA text contends that schools are required to provide educational programming that is reasonably calculated to provide a student with opportunities substantially equal to those of their peers
- Language in IDEA supports a more stringent standard such as: “provide a meaningful educational benefit”; “make progress in the general education curriculum”
- Fisher proposed a new standard: “A student’s IEP should generally “be tailored to achieve a general educational curriculum at grade level”; if that is not possible, the IEP should use alternative benchmarks that are “the highest possible achievable by the student.”
For more information:
SCOTUS Blog
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