Seven Apps for Working with Special Needs Students

As a special needs teacher, you face new specific challenges with every fresh student. Whether you work in an inclusive classroom or in specialized groups, each child is unlike any other. They have different needs, different behavioral patterns, different challenges and different talents. That is why employing apps and other digital tools for personalizing your approach is very beneficial. Apps can help you customize your curriculum to the needs of your students without making the process time-consuming and overwhelming. Here, I highlight 7 apps that can help with personalizing learning for special needs students.

Read more here.

A new Wisconsin poll finds overwhelming support for School Choice

MADISON, Wis. — A new poll by the state’s largest business advocate finds Wisconsinites are more optimistic about the economy than they were this time last year.

The Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Survey of Voter Attitudes shows that 35 percent respondents believe the Badger State economy will improve in 2017 while 42 percent believe it will stay about the same. Last year, 22 percent of respondents expected the economy to improve and 56 percent predicted it would stay the same.

Click here to see what the poll said about school choice.

School choice changes for non-traditional student-athletes in Florida

School choice isn’t just for traditional student-athletes anymore.

Manatee County made alterations, based on Florida Statute 1006.15, that details the requirements for students wishing to participate in extracurricular student activities, including sports. Those changes mean non-traditional students such as home-schooled, full-time Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and charter school students can school choice next year.

In the past, those student-athletes could only play athletics at the school they were zoned for, but that will change for the 2017-18 school year, Manatee County athletic director Jason Montgomery said in an email release.

Keep reading here. 

Restoring Educational Choice Means Ditching The Department Of Education’s Burdensome Regulations

For the Feds in the U.S. Education Department, ‘flexibility’ means there’s nothing left to lose.

Flexibility is a quality Olympic gymnasts possess. When federal bureaucrats claim they are being flexible in administering massive programs of aid to elementary and secondary education, spectators would be wise to hold their chants of “USA! USA! USA!”

Continue reading here. 

In Two Weeks: National School Choice Week Will Feature 21,392 Independently-Planned Events Nationwide, Draw Tens of Millions

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--As 2017 promises to bring new growth to educational opportunity around the country, tens of millions of parents, teachers, students, citizens and community leaders are planning celebrations during National School Choice Week.

21,392 independently-planned events will take place from January 22-28 including pep rallies, science fairs, school tours, policy forums, and rallies in more than 25 state capitals. These celebrations will be attended by tens of millions of Americans in all 50 states over just seven days.

Check out more on this here. 

School choice on center stage in a handful of states in 2017

The American Federation for Children says the key states to watch for school choice legislation in 2017 are Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and New Hampshire.

Texas could also be a candidate, Rayanne Matlock of Americans for Tax Reform writes in the Washington Examiner, quoting Republican Gov. Greg Abbott as saying he “would be interested in signing the most pro-school choice law that arrives on my desk.”

Click here for more.

12-year-old skater from Massachusetts pursues dream in virtual school

SHREWSBURY - When you discover your passion at an early age, making the time to follow your dream can be a challenge.

But for Isabella Ramirez of Shrewsbury, who uncovered a love for ice skating early in life, online school has been the secret to helping her create space in her life for a rigorous practice schedule while keeping up with her education.

A typical day involves waking up amid the din of a busy house, with two older brothers still living at home, a working mother and father, and a protective pup under one roof. Classes begin, through her trusty laptop, on her own schedule and like many kids attending TECCA (Connections Academy), she chooses to get the math and science classes over early.

Continue reading here. 

Another View: School choice for children who have none

For most Americans, school choice is an undisputed right. Millions of parents choose to send their children to parochial or other private schools. Millions more decide where to rent or buy a home based on the quality of the local public schools.

The only people who do not enjoy this right are those who are too poor to move out of neighborhoods where public schools are failing. A disproportionate number of these are people of color.

This is the distinction to keep in mind as the incoming Trump administration prepares to make “school choice” its rallying cry. Education secretary-designate Betsy DeVos is a passionate advocate of vouchers and charter schools. Teachers unions are passionate opponents of both, and they will accuse DeVos of wanting to destroy public education.

More here. 

Why online learning works for these Indiana kids

Online schools offer opportunities that can be life-changing for children who need flexible learning, even though the schools have broadly demonstrated a poor track record in Indiana so far. Indiana Connections Academy, along with every online school in the state that tested students in 2016, received an F grade from the state last month.

But the Neiers and Taylors, who have been with Indiana Connections Academy since it opened in 2010, are happy with their choice. They said the self-paced nature of virtual learning, the lack of social distractions and the ability to learn anytime, anywhere, have given their kids the environment they need to be successful.

Continue reading here. 

Another K12 Success Story

Two online school students who have beaten the odds will be headed on the path to success a little earlier than most, thanks to Insight School of Washington (ISWA).

Lexi Breda and Brianna Carlile, both 18, will both have completed all of their required courses a semester early and will be able to graduate this month, despite complicated circumstances that led them to ISWA.

Lexi’s brother competes in motocross, and with the immense amount of travel needed to accommodate his career, along with a less-than-ideal learning environment, Lexi’s education suffered before she joined him at ISWA.

Read more about their experience here.