The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) empowers special education teachers, advocates, and professionals with practical training, trusted resources, and meaningful connections - supporting those who make a difference in the lives of students with diverse learning needs.
Happy Friday! Have a safe and fun July 4th weekend! Here's the news you may have missed this week
News about the U.S. Department of Education's decision to move oversight of special education to Health and Human Services and civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department continued to dominate this week. Federal officials pushed back on what they called "misconceptions" about the outsourcing, while analyses warned that splitting up special education and civil rights could dilute services for students. Join NASET on August 6th for a special education briefing on this announcement and other updates as the school year begins.
The Education Department also left most K-12 fields off its expanded list of professional degrees, education groups sued over withheld research grants, and schools continued to lay off staff as lawsuits challenging federal grant cuts moved forward.
Beyond the outsourcing, new reporting explored how the reconciliation bill's Medicaid cuts could affect people with disabilities, and how the Supreme Court's "forced outing" decision is beginning to impact districts nationwide.
On the research and classroom front, coverage examined a Florida effort to prevent drowning among children with autism, and how autism therapy remains covered by many insurers even as the military's plan moves to restrict it.
Worksheets, webinars, trivia and more below!
SlackBoards Help Kids Focus, Regulate and Learn
Most of us were taught that learning means sitting still. But for many children with special needs, stillness works against them. The vestibular system, which governs balance and spatial awareness, connects directly to the circuits regulating focus and readiness to learn. The right movement input shifts the nervous system into a calmer, more organized state that supports concentration. The SlackBoard was built on exactly this principle. Exceptional Edge Readers save 20% with code NASET
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Hello from the NASET Break Room - our quick pulse check on the state of special education based on trending posts and questions we saw online this week.
Last Week:
Do you think your state takes special education compliance seriously?
It depends on the district, not the state 🔄 (478%)
Has your district ever promised a financial incentive for special education teachers that didn't materialize?
No incentives have ever been offered here 🤷♀️ (59%)
Did your certification program adequately prepare you for a self-contained special education classroom?
Not even close 😳 (36%)
Have you ever witnessed a colleague treat a student with a disability in a way that you felt was ableist or harmful?
Yes, and I said something 💪
Yes, but I didn't know how to respond 😔
I've seen gray areas but nothing clear-cut 🤔
No, not in my experience ✅
Do you think most IEPs at your school genuinely serve the student - or primarily protect the district?
Genuinely serve the student 🎯
Mostly protect the district 😬
It depends on the team writing it 🔄
Honestly, a little of both 🤷♀️
Do you think school vouchers are a good option for students with disabilities?
No - they lose IDEA protections 🚫
Sometimes, for families with limited options 🤔
Yes, more choice is always better 👍
I don't know enough about it to say 📋
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📋 Support Special Education Research as a Participant
Seeking K-12 special educators with experience working with twice exceptional (2e) students 👉Review details and compensation here →
Seeking elementary special education teachers with experience implementing specially designed instruction (SDI) 👉Review details here →
Seeking school-based staff who work with students who receive special education services under the autism category of IDEA 👉Review details and compensation here →
👩💻 Webinars in July & August to keep you informed:
Tuesday July 21st at 7pm EST: The Brain Behind the Behavior: What Neuroscience Tells Us About Trauma, Behavior Disorders, and What Special Educators Can Do About It Join PhD Candidate, Tara Tedrow, MA, Assistant Professor of Instruction (University of Northern Iowa) as she breaks down her research which lies at the intersection of neuroscience, trauma, and behavior disorders and shares insights on how to best support your students.
🧠 Register today (Free for NASET Members)
FREE WEBINARS:
ON TUESDAY July 7th @ 4PM EST: From Research to Reality: What the Latest Special Education Evidence Actually Says - and How to Use It in Your Classroom Join Dr. Allie Boquet (Louisiana State University) and Dr. Chelsea T. Morris (University of New Mexico), JAASEP Co-Editors-In-Chief as they walk you through the latest in special education research that is shaping the field right now, what it actually means for your classroom, and how to close the gap between what studies recommend and what happens on Monday morning.
📖 FREE REGISTRATION
📝 Read the latest issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals | Members read for freeThursday August 6th @ 4PM EST: Special Education Landscape Briefing: Announced Shift to HHS Join the co-authors of Special Education and the Law, Dr. Allan G. Osborne and Dr. Charles J. Russo, as they discuss the latest on special education federal agency oversight, administration, and enforcement of these protections, and what questions this announced shift raises for the people doing the daily work of serving students.
📖 FREE REGISTRATION
📚 July Special Educator e-Journal
Perry Zirkel’s July Legal Update
In Support of Responsible AI in Special Education: A Practitioner’s Perspective By Tim Ranis, NBCT, M.S. Special Education
Beyond the Classroom: An Evidence-Informed Approach to Teaching Life Skills and Promoting Independence in Students with Moderate-to-Severe Disabilities By Revitche Quijano
🎓 Earn graduate credit with NASET for under $150! Through our partnership with Augustana University, we offer 2 graduate credit eligible courses for under $150.
✅ Complete coursework in our related services or IEP implementation course!
⬇️ NASET Support Squad Downloads of the Week Building Strong General Education and Special Education Partnerships and Supporting Students During Unstructured Times Scroll down to instantly download ⬇️
POLICY & FUNDING DEVELOPMENTS
AUTISM RESEARCH & PRACTICE
Looking for a new role? Join the NASET Talent Network!
The "Just Right Challenge"
Some movement tools rev kids up, working against you. The SlackBoard does the opposite. Its low-amplitude, rhythmic motion calms and organizes the nervous system; what occupational therapists call the "just right challenge." Rooted in Dr. A. Jean Ayres' sensory integration work, it delivers enough input to engage sensory-seeking, under-responsive, or chronically dysregulated children without tipping them into overwhelm. For these kids, the right input can be transformative. Exceptional Edge Readers save 20% with code NASET
Shout Out to Last Week’s Winners Who Correctly Answered, “Spastic Cerebral Palsy.” View the winners list here!
This Week's Question:
What type of hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve, as opposed to the outer or middle ear?
Correctly answer 3 or more trivia questions each month to be eligible for a gift card! We had 19 winners in June!
What’s one resource you’ll be looking for this summer? Reply to this email and let us know!
Getting Started with the SlackBoard
Bringing the SlackBoard into your classroom, clinic, or home? Start with the SlackBoard PLUS model with two lines, the recommended setup for anyone just beginning to integrate it. The motion is small, rhythmic, and regulatory rather than alerting, so students can use it during instruction, not just breaks. Watch a short demo of how to begin. Exceptional Edge Readers save 20% with code NASET
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