Partnerships work best when they are local, accountable, and organized. Build a partner database that centers Black-owned and community-owned businesses, secures MOUs and DSAs that comply with FERPA, matches students by IEP supports and interests, tracks paid hours and outcomes, and publishes a quarterly dashboard. System beats heroics.
Differentiation should lift students to grade level learning, not lower the bar. Keep grade level texts on the table, add accommodations and scaffolds to open access, and monitor progress so supports fade as independence grows.
An Individualized Education Program meeting should run like a strategy session. Share the agenda early, review data together, write plain language goals, and leave with a 30 day plan that names actions, owners, and dates. Families walk out knowing exactly what happens next.
Family partnership is a steady rhythm, not a single meeting. Share a weekly, plain language update that explains what was taught, what you observed, and what comes next. Add one clear way families can help, then repeat it every week.
Transition services should produce paychecks and references. Track paid hours, job shadows, interviews, and supervisor feedback. Build a résumé before graduation and connect students with vocational rehabilitation so work continues after high school.
The U.S. Department of Education has begun laying off 466 employees during the federal shutdown, which is about one fifth of the agency’s remaining staff. Several offices that protect civil rights and support students with disabilities are among the hardest hit. Reports indicate that the Office of Special Education Programs is dropping from about 200 … Continue reading When the Safety Net Frays: What Federal Layoffs Mean for Special Education
If it is not written, it did not happen. Set a clean baseline for every IEP, build a five-day documentation rhythm, and use clear definitions that honor students. Clean data exposes gaps and drives better service.
Rigor is love. Black students with disabilities deserve grade-level instruction, weekly wins, and tutoring that responds to real data. Lowered expectations protect adults. High expectations with support protect futures.
Accountability is a scoreboard. Publish service minutes, IEP progress, and work experiences in public view, disaggregated and privacy-safe. If the data is strong, show it. If it is weak, fix it with a plan.
Language in Special Education is not neutral. Terms like “case manager” and “caseload” mirror the criminal justice system, not a learning community. This is a clear connection between SPED and carceral culture. I choose Advocate and Student Roster, because our students are people, not files. Change the language, change the culture.
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