Program Session
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Dr. Joanne Cashman, Ph.D., Director, IDEA Partnership project, National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Washington, D.C.
Gary Mesibov, Ph.D., Director of Division TEACCH, University of North Carolina
Jennifer Neitzel, PhD, Content Specialist, National Technical Assistance Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders at UNC
The number of children identified with autism has increased by nearly 400 percent during the past decade, making it the fastest growing categorical learning disability schools must address. Serving these children well is a challenge for schools financially and logistically. This session will review the current population statistics and its implications as well as promising treatment options for children with autism.
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Business Breakfast Session
8:00 a.m - 9:30 a.m.
Education and the Federal Stimulus
Stacey Jordan, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides nearly $100 billion for education, an unprecedented infusion of federal funds to schools. This session takes a closer look at the impact these funds might have and the consequences of a larger federal role in education.
Common Core Standards Initiative
Speaker Ilene M. Berman, Ed.D., Program Director, K-12 Education, Literacy, Charters, International Benchmarking, Education Division, National Governors Association, Washington, D.C.
Chris Minnich, Director of Standards, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C.
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia have signed on to
an effort spearheaded by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors' Association to craft a unified model of what children need to learn from Kindergarten through high school in the areas of English language arts and mathematics. This ambitious, state-led program represents an effort to move beyond the current patchwork of standards that exists toward a single standard of excellence for all students, regardless of where they live. |
