New Diploma Option for Students with Disabilities

By Kit Casey, Transition Specialist

March 2018

The New York State Board of Regents approved an emergency measure which provides eligible students with disabilities an additional opportunity to earn local diplomas.  The option, referred to as the Superintendent Determination Amendment, went into effect Jan. 1, 2018.  Students who have...

Teacher-Student Relationships and Academic Achievement: What’s the Connection?

By Ann Narcisse, Regional Special Education Training Specialist, and Dale Langley, Behavior Specialist

February 2018

Growing up in a Spanish-speaking household one of the authors, Ann, was subjected to an ample variety of “dichos”, or sayings, with nuanced meanings. She was repeatedly warned against laziness and lying. Her mother was very concerned about who she spent time with and would frequently ...

Making New Year’s Resolutions? Select and Implement an Evidence-Based Practice in Your School or Classroom!

By Fran Fernandez & Nicole Scariano, RSE-TASC Special Education School Improvement Specialists

January 2018

January marks the beginning of a new year and brings with it a spirit of reflection and commitment to self-improvement.  Many of us make plans to change a current work routine or establish a new one, but weeks to months later, find we have fallen back into the old routine and are wonderin...

Check-In/Check-Out: A Tier 2 Behavior Support

By Sara Fienup, RSE-TASC Behavior Specialist

December 2017

When students with significant behavioral challenges do not receive adequate intervention, the costs can be astronomical. Not only do unaddressed behavior problems lead to negative individual, family, and educational outcomes such as poor achievement and dropping out, but they also lead to...