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In This Issue...
Question of the Quarter
Upcoming Events
News and Notes
Featured Resources
Recommended Reading
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Recommended Reading
*Available at PNCR's resource lending library!
Click on the book cover below to read reviews and look inside at Amazon.com.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Carol Dweck
"Highly recommended...an essential read for parents, teachers [and] coaches...as well as for those who would like to increase their own feelings of success and fulfillment."
-Library Journal (starred review)
For the Capital District online guide to everything for kids, teens, & families, click the image below.
Connect with PNCR
The mission of the Parent Network of the Capital Region (PNCR) is to provide parents with knowledge, skills, and resources to facilitate productive relationships with their school districts, ensuring an appropriate education for their child. All services are offered free-of-charge.
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Greetings and
Happy Summer!
We hope you will enjoy PNCR's quarterly newsletter in its all new format! In this issue, you will find a special feature called, "Question of the Quarter." Each quarter we will poll our calls and share a question from our most interesting call. Also, in this issue are "Upcoming Events," "News and Notes," "Featured Resources" and "Recommended Reading." We hope you will find this new format easy to read and informative. We'd love to know what you think, so please give us your feedback by taking the survey at the end of this newsletter!
The PNCR Team
Bonnie, Diane, Liz, Mary, and Sheri
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Question of the Quarter
Q: "My daughter is in high school and working towards a Regents or a NYS Local diploma. It will depend on how she does on the tests. I'm so anxious about all of this and now I have heard that there are a lot of changes related to the Regents exams. Can you please explain?
Yes, that is an understatement, and it is really important to educate yourself because these changes are so new and complex that some district staff may not even be aware. Last year, the Regents voted to amend the current regulations to establish new assessment pathways to a NYS diploma. This change is referred to as the "4+1" option, and is available to students with and without disabilities.
Students need to pass four required Regents exams: one English Language Arts, one Math, one Science, and one Social Studies. Students will also be required to pass another Regents (or a NYSED approved alternative) as their fifth examination or "+1". In addition, in March, the Regents voted to approve a CDOS pathway, where students who meet all of the requirements for the CDOS Credential will be able to count that as the +1.
Another recent change includes the appeals process for Regents exam scores. When a student does not pass a Regents exam, but gets within a certain score range, an appeal of the score can be requested through a process within the school. Upon approval of the appeal, a student may be awarded a Regents or local diploma. The most important things to know are that all students can appeal scores of 60-64 (expanded from 62-64) and students with disabilities can now appeal scores of 52-54 on up to two Regents exams. This is really complex stuff and there are other requirements. Some of the guidance is already outdated (for example the appeal no longer has 95% attendance requirement), but you can find information about all of this by checking out the following links: Pathways 4+1
;
CDOS+1
;
55 Low pass Appeal
;
Regents appeal .Please call us if you are confused! 518-640-3320.
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Tuesday, July 12th - 7:00pm-8:00pm, Saratoga Springs (Saratoga County)
Bullying in School and Special Considerations for Students with Disabilities
For flyer/to register, click here.
Tuesday, July 19th -
6:00pm-7:30pm, Cobleskill (Schoharie County)
Cracking the Code: Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities
For flyer/to register, click
here.
Thursday, July 28th - 5:30pm-
7:30pm, Mellenville (Columbia County)
Anxiety and Depression in Youth:
What Do I Need to Know? How Can I Help?
For flyer/to register, click here.
Thursday, August 18th - 6:00pm-7:30pm, Cobleskill (
Schoharie County)
It's All in the Way You Say It: Communicating Effectively with Your Child's Educational Team
For flyer/to register, click
here.
Wednesday, August 24th - 5:30pm-7:30pm, Mellenville (Columbia County)
Bullying in School and Special Considerations for Students with Disabilities
For flyer/to register, click here.
Tuesday, September 27th - 10:00am-11:30am, Cobleskill (Schoharie County)
Anxiety and Depression in Youth:
What Do I Need to Know? How Can I Help?
For flyer/to register, click here.
News and Notes
PNCR has a Twitter account! Follow us @PNCRNY.
PNCR is now offering a free monthly drop-in support opportunity for parents of children with disabilities.
Beginning Wednesday, July 6th, this drop-in opportunity will take place the first Wednesday of every month, from 11:00am-12:00pm at the PNCR offices located at 1190 Troy-Schenenctady Road in Latham.
PNCR invites you to stop in and borrow educational books or videos from our lending library.
This month's featured book is:
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Carol Dweck
College Earns Major Grant to Promote Inclusive Play
The Inclusive Recreation Resource Center will launch a two-year, two-part project. To read more, click
here
.
New ABC comedy focused on living with disability
This fall, ABC will air a comedy about a child with special needs. To read more, click
here.
To view trailer, click
here
.
Register to Receive Information on Services for Students with Disabilities from NYSED.
You can receive notification, by electronic mail, of the latest memoranda and other technical assistance documents available on the Special Education website. Sign up
here to receive the latest on policy and regulations changes that may impact your child!
Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential: Requirements
The Board of Education or trustees of a school must (and the principal of a nonpublic school may) issue a Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential to each student with a severe disability in accordance with specified rules.
Featured Resources
Special Education Task Force - Capital Region
Website of the New York State Special Education Task Force. Ensures that children with disabilities are educated in the least restrictive setting and receive a free and appropriate education.
KidsOutAndAbout.com
America's online network of local web sites that show parents the wealth of opportunities available for kids and families in local areas.
View
NYSED Special Education Office
Website of the Special Education Office of the New York State Education Department.
View
Regulations of the Commissioner of Education - Parts 200 and 201
Part 200 and 201 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education are the NYS regulations to conform to the federal Individuals with Disabilities with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Part 200 and 201 regulations are the special education law for New York State. A topical index link is available to assist in finding regulations related to specific issues or topics.
Special Education Publications
Publications and policy memoranda issued by the New York State Education Department regarding issues related to implementation of special education in the state. Publications are indexed according to topic area or date of publication. This is a good area to search when looking for more information or guidance on a specific topic or area of concern.
View
Technical Assistance Centers / Resources funded by NYSED
Provides links to technical assistance resources and guidance materials available to school districts, parents and others interested in the education of students with disabilities.
View
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