Saturday, July 04, 2009     •  Login
 
   
 
   
   
   
 
 
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Welcome to MCneeds - A Great I.D.E.A.

MCneeds is a grassroots organization that advocates for the improvement in the quality of life for  individuals with disabilities and their families in Montgomery County, Maryland. Its membership includes parents, advocates, lawyers, teachers and many others. While its focus is primarily special education, MCneeds advocates for and addresses other issues that impact the lives of individuals with disabilities.

    Join MCneeds Yahoo Group! (group forum independent of but associated with this website) 

 
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   Gem of the Day Minimize

“Montgomery County is the magic kingdom.. ... We can adapt a program for a kid who can’t see, hear, or walk, and he can make it to Harvard. This is where miracles happen.”

          - Superintendent Weast

Magic and miracles...that's why there are so many satisfied 'customers' in the MCPS special ed community.

Read more in the Washingtonian article

 
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   MCPS Parent Survey and Data for [Phased Out] Learning Center Students Minimize

NEW!  Just posted to the MCPS website 2/20/09

From the Office of Shared Accountability:

Evaluation of the Phase Out of the Secondary Learning Centers: Final Report   February 2009

Actual completion date: prior to September 16, 2008

Why did it take so long to become available to the public?

 
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   Events Minimize

THURSDAY, April 30, 2009

SEAC Meeting
Room 127
Carver Administration Building
850 Hungerford Dr., (Rockville Pike - next to Montgomery College)

7 p.m.

Discussing the report of the closing of the Secondary Learning Centers. (see link in left column)
     
Refreshments are served and everyone is welcome.

 


 Seminars, Workshops, Support Groups

See MCCPTA calendar 

 
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   MCPS Equity Assurance and Compliance Updates Minimize

MCPS Special Education Compliance Policies USED TO BE located on this page:

http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/specialed/updates.shtm

There were at last count 40 documents avaiable - from INITIATING SCREENING IEP TEAM MEETINGS/TIMELINES to STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OVER THE AGE OF SIXTEEN WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL.  These were provided by the Division of Equity Assurance and Compliance - until now.  The above policies have been removed and are available in bound form - maybe - at your local school in the "Special Education Manual/Booklet"

MOST ARE NOW AVAILABLE HERE ON THE MCNEEDS SITE - GO HERE...

If anyone has any of the missing pdf files or can scan files of the printed copies of any of the compliance updates, please send to webmaster@mcneeds.org

 
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   What's New? Minimize

New version (Feb. 2008) of Maryland Accommodations Manual that contains important information on the process to get accommodations for class and testing AS WELL AS requirements for taking the MOD-MSA/HSA, and requirements for the Bridge Plan for Academic Validation (BPAV)

A UMD student presents her report on IDEA 2004 and MCPS Special Education as a resource for the community

CIP Story now has its own page:  CIP and the Hidden Special Ed Changes

3 new stories on Special Ed in the News page - Weast opposes HSA alternative...Stephen Knolls closing...Rachel Carson LC...

Contact info, committee meeting info and documents for MCPS Special Education, Board of Education and Montgomery County Council now on their own pages!

Read the March 31, 2007 MSDE Report on Bullying in Maryland...

Council member Phil Andrews criticizes MCPS for using 'flawed data'! Weast announces special ed school 'co-location' in CIP!  Lyda interviewed! Find these and other news article links on the Special Ed in the News page...

Read compelling testimonies presented at BoE meetings, Community Forums and Budget Hearings - personal stories from parents and teachers...

How does MCPS 'confirm' Emotional Disturbance and Mental Retardation? Download the MCPS handbook...

MCPS SAT Accommodations webpage link and contact info on Accommodations page...

See updates on the closing of Secondary Learning Center saga...

Read DC Examiner story about court review of MCPS decision to close Learning Centers on the Special Ed in the News page...

State BoE denies appeal to stop closing of secondary LCs.  Read MCneeds Press Release and newspaper stories

New Page!  Special Ed in the News has links to local and national articles/blogs of interest.

Press Packet contents for May 21 Rally!

Accomodations and Modifications- different for instruction AND testing!

Alt-MSA? Mod-MSA? What's the difference? Go here to find out more...

Missed that 'Gem of the Day'?  Read the old ones in the Archives...

Why didn't MCPS receive the coveted Baldrige Award? Could it be for lack of 'customer satisfaction'? Read the report on the  News page...

Read the Frequently Asked Questionss about IEPs and rising elementary LC students

Problems during your IEP meeting? We're conducting an informal survey.  Details...

Our new 'Bullying' page has info on what to do and who to contact...

Agency Contacts has links pointing to MCPS, BOE and Montgomery County Council (MCC) contact info

What's the MCPS Operating Budget timeline in MCC and BOE?  Look here...

Now that spring is here, IEPs are on everyone's mind.  Please look here for advice for your upcoming meeting.  An article by Leslie Brents : Advice for a Spring IEP Meeting from the LDAMC newsletter. Get ideas for questions to ask about IEP goals .

The closing of the Secondary Learning Centersis a 3 yr proposal put forth by MCPS.  Read the petition and look at the 900 signatures acquired in a short amount of time condemning this move.  Read the revised, revised (yes, this is the third) proposal.  Read the FAQs recently put out by MCPS.

 
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