Register Now and Get to the Heart of IEPs with MPACT's Webinar Series | |
Register Now and Thrive Through Transitions to Graduation with MPACT's March Webinar Series | |
February is Black History Month | |
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The State of Missouri welcomes you to the 2023 Black History Month Celebration with keynote speaker, Steven Rogers. A professional recording of the event will be made available by February 27, 2023.
Click HERE for more information about the event.
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History of Black History Month | |
The recognition of African Americans’ contribution to civilization started with Negro History Week in 1925 through the efforts of Carter G. Woodson. At mid-century, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week. The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history, and the Civil Rights movement focused Americans of all colors on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture.
The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first African American History Month. By this time, the nation had recognized Black history's importance in American story drama. Since then, each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations.
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
Additional Resources:
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2023 Black History Month Celebration. Office of Equal Opportunity. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://oeo.mo.gov/2023-statewide-black-history-month-celebration/ | |
Extended School Year (ESY) vs Summer School | |
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has an Extended School Year (ESY) Policies webpage, check it out HERE.
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View the ESY fact sheet HERE
View the ESY fact sheet in Spanish (vea la hoja informativa de ESY en español aquí) HERE
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Facts About Extended School Year | |
Under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), every LEA is required to provide ESY services to any student who needs ESY services for FAPE. ESY services include special education services and related services. ESY services are not limited to addressing academic concerns. ESY services can also address physical, social, emotional and behavioral needs of students. LEAs may not limit ESY services to a certain time period (ie 3 weeks in June, or only over summer break) when the student would not benefit from services during the planned period but would benefit from services during a different time period or for an additional amount of time beyond the planned period. Nor may they limit ESY services to only certain groups of students. Read more HERE
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Homeless Youth and the McKinney Vento Act | |
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Act describes homelessness as: "Children and unaccompanied youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence."
- "Fixed" means stationary, permanent, and not subject to change
- "Regular" means nighttime residence available on a predictable or routine basis
- "Adequate" means the residence is sufficient for both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environment, including adequate and quiet space for studying
Click HERE to be directed to DESE's webpage to learn more about extra college planning assistance, Exam fee waivers, a foster care transition toolkit, and more.
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Accessible Education Materials (AEM) | |
Overview
Missouri was selected as one of seven AEM Cohort States (2020-2024) by the National Accessible Educational Materials Center for intensive technical assistance to improve access and usage of accessible educational materials and technologies for learners.
Purpose
The purpose of Missouri’s AEM Project is to create a robust provisioning system to increase the availability and use of accessible educational materials (AEM) and accessible technologies by all learners to improve their overall success.
Vision
Missouri's students, teachers, and parents will be able to access, acquire, create, and implement AEM.
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Click HERE for the DESE website link for AEM information that hosts the video | |
Power Up 2023 - Registration Now Open | |
On April 3 & 4, 2023, the Midwest Assistive Technology Community will come together to network, learn, and share at the Power Up AT Conference.
Assistive technology practitioners, teachers, parents, caregivers, and persons with disabilities have gathered at Power Up over the last 25 years to learn, network, and share best practices in assistive technology. In April of 2023, we will gather together in Columbia, MO, for Power Up!
Power Up 2023's Conference Guide provides more information. More information about the sessions and presenters will be available in the coming month.
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The 19th Annual Missouri Youth Leadership Forum
(MO-YLF) will be held July 18-22, 2023
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The Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is a unique career leadership-training program for high school students with disabilities, ages 16 – 21. Youth delegates are selected from their local communities to cultivate leadership, citizenship, social, and career development skills at this summer program.
For information and application for the Virtual Leadership Forum, click HERE.
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Tools That Challenge the School-to-Prison Pipeline | |
Gang Leader to Graduate - A Conscious Discipline Transformation
This is the story of DJ Batiste. At the age of four, he was kicked out of Head Start. At thirteen, he was in Juvenile Detention and still leading a large violent gang in Mississippi. At the age of 17, he was introduced to Conscious Discipline. Now, he leads and teaches from a different point of view and, in turn, inspires hundreds around the country with the message of Connection instead of Correction.
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Military children often face situations that cause stress, including a parent’s deployment, a family move, or the general pressures of teen life. Click HERE to read an article for military families that includes tips and resources, including how the Military and Family Life Counseling Program can provide professional help.
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Disability Rights Legislative Day | |
Mark your calendars for Disability Rights Legislative Day on Wednesday, March 1, 2023! This year's event will be held in person and online, and participants from across Missouri will have an opportunity to connect with their legislators and advocate for critical issues.
To stay up-to-date with event information, click either the "Interested" or "Going" button on this event HERE.
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Social Security's Ticket to Work Program is a free and voluntary program available to people ages 18 through 64 who are blind or have a disability and who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The program increases the financial independence and self-sufficiency of beneficiaries with disabilities and reduces (and whenever possible eliminates) reliance on disability benefits.
Click HERE to learn more
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Upcoming MPACT Webinars
Click on the links below to register
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Understanding the IEP Process and Behavior Interventions In-Person Training Series | |
Location: Mid-Continent Public Library - Lee's Summit Branch 150 Northwest Oldham Parkway Lee's Summit, MO 64081 | |
Art of Effective Advocacy
Mar 7 @ 1:00 - 3:00PM
Location: Foster Adopt Connect 1802 W. 32nd Street Ste F Joplin, MO 64804
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Understanding the IEP Process
Mar 21 @ 1:00 - 3:00PM
Location: Foster Adopt Connect 1802 W. 32nd Street Ste F Joplin, MO 64804
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View all upcoming MPACT trainings HERE. | |
All MPACT trainings are free of charge! If you would like to schedule any MPACT training in your area or for your organization
please click on the link HERE.
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Make A Difference, Join MPACT Today! | |
MPACT is funded in part or whole by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs Grant No. H328M090020-10. The contents of the website, however, and any documents cited herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S Department of Education.
Copyright © 2023 MPACT. All rights reserved
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