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Happy New Year and welcome to The Arc of Aurora's Schoolhouse News, an education-focused, mobile-friendly monthly newsletter! If there is anything you would like us to cover next month, please email Kristen Blackwell at kblackwell@thearcofaurora.org. Happy reading!
Let's Play!
Contributed by Nancy Bowden, Director of Individual Advocacy

It's pretty cool that all students in public elementary schools are required by law to play at school! 

Yep! HOUSE BILL 11-1069, which was sponsored by REPRESENTATIVE(S) Massey and Fields, Casso, Duran, Ferrandino, Fischer, Hullinghorst, Kefalas, Labuda, Lee, Miklosi, Pabon, Pace, Peniston, Priola, Riesberg, Schafer S., Solano, Soper, Todd, Tyler, Vigil, Williams A., Wilson, Kerr A.; and SENATOR(S) Aguilar, Boyd, Foster, Guzman, Heath, Hudak, Johnston, Nicholson (1), made it possible.

The requirements of HOUSE BILL 11-1069 are spelled out in reader-friendly language in the COLORADO REVISED STATUTES under ยง22-32-136.5, the children's wellness-physical activity requirement-legislative declaration.

The Statute mentions eight key factors supporting the physical activity requirement (2) in Public Elementary Schools:
IDEA Turns the Big 4-0
Contributed by Jenifer Woods, Advocate

In 1975 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act became a law, and in 2004 it became known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). No matter what the law is titled, it has one purpose:  to insure the right of all children, no matter what their special need, to receive a free and appropriate public education . Well, the law turned the big 4-0 in November, and here are just a few things that have improved (or changed) with time. 
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What You Should Know About School Evaluations
Contributed by Kristin Lance, Advocate

Evaluations are the foundation of determining eligibility for Special Education services and for continued eligibility if a student has an existing Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  School evaluations must be conducted in all areas related to the suspected disability including cognitive, social/emotional, physical/health, physical/motor, communication, academics and life skills (typically older students).  In addition, a variety of tools and measures must be utilized during the evaluations in order to gather appropriate and accurate data.
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Without 'No Child Left Behind', How Does the New Law Ensure my Child Won't be Left Behind?
Contributed by Hanni Raley, Director of Systems Advocacy

In December, President Barack Obama signed a bipartisan bill called the 'Every Student Succeeds Act', overhauling the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education law that expired in 2007. This new bill will reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the federal law overseeing public education across the country.

The bill intends to usher in a new approach for K-12 education in regards to accountability, teacher evaluations and the way the most poorly-performing schools are pushed to improve.
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Kristen Blackwell, Administrative Assistant
The Arc of Aurora | kblackwell@thearcofaurora.org | 720-213-1420 | www.thearcofaurora.org
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