Special Education American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funding
Special education is currently receiving an extra $12 billion in funding over two years (50% more than current funding!).
All Recovery Act funds must be
obligated by September 30, 2011.
Time is running out!
Make your plan now and advocate for AT.
Download a sample plan and get started now.
Update 01.07.11 - As of July 3, 2010, only 60% of IDEA ARRA funding has been spent.
Find out how much is still available in your district.
Type in the name of your district and click search. Then click on the name of your district in the search results. This will show a breakdown of total ARRA dollars (not just for special ed). Scroll down and click on IDEA part B. This shows how much funding was allocated to your district for special education and how much was spent.
Now get out there and advocate for assistive technology! Could you advocate for just a few percent of the total?
Allocate Just 1-2% for Assistive Technology
Did you know that assistive technology was suggested as the first in a short list of recommendations for ARRA recovery spending? The first year of funding has passed, but new ARRA funding is being released throughout the 2010-2011 school year.
Some of this funding is being diverted to other projects outside of
special education. But you can make a difference by advocating for
assistive technology. Now is the time to speak to your director to allocate just 1-2% to build your assistive technology infrastructure.
On Demand ARRA Webinar: A year into ARRA funding, andonly a year left.
Now what?
Join us
for this one-hour on-demand webinar presented by Brian S. Friedlander,
Ph.D. Dr. Friedlander gives an overview of ARRA funding, outlines how to
advocate for it, and shares stories of districts in New Jersey who have
used ARRA funding in creative ways to build an AT infrastructure and
implement it.
With an additional $100,000 left in ARRA funding per school, even just 1-2% can have an impact!
The webinar will focuses on these questions:
What are some of the misconceptions about ARRA funding?
How can I advocate for ARRA funding?
What has worked for other districts?
What kind of implementation plan should I present to my special ed director?
Once I have the funding, how can I use it most effectively?
Hundreds of districts are using ARRA funds to build their AT infrastructure. Hear from some of these featured educators who made a difference with ARRA funding and AT.
Colquitt District, GA
Armed with ARRA funds and strong cross-departmental support, Diane and a
team of specialists set out to equip more teachers with the training
and resources they needed to bring assistive technology accommodations
into classroom writing instruction. They used ARRA funds to purchase Co:Writer,
a writing tool that helps students who struggle with spelling and
grammar. After a short time, teachers were feeling comfortable with the
technology and students took to the computer program. Read more…
Diane Barfield
Assistive Technology Coordinator
and Regional Chairperson of the
SW Georgia AT Consortium
Fairfax County, VA
Bill Reeder
Retired Special Education Administrator
Jennifer Carr
Assistive Technology Specialist
Fairfax has the largest assistive technology team in the country and implements AT in some of the most creative ways around. They used ARRA funding to purchase Read:OutLoud Unlimited Site Licenses for every school in the county. This license gives students unlimited access and includes take-home rights.
Watch an on-demand webinar where Bill Reeder and Jennifer Carr (of Fairfax County Public Schools) roll out their plans for ARRA funding.
They started up three summer writing camps (for 5th, 8th, and 11th graders) to prepare students for the state writing test. Students learn how to use the writing accommodations at writing camp, then use the tools throughout the school year, then use them on the test.
With the support and guidance from the District’s AT team, Ms. Cochran, set out to change the way writing instruction was delivered through the use of assistive technology. Through local, Title VI-B and ARRA funds, the district purchased unlimited site licenses to SOLO, an assistive technology computer program, which scaffolds the writing process for students who need added support.
Ms. Cochran created a peer-to-peer editing process with a writing rubric on capitalization, usage, punctuation, and spelling. Her students embraced the collaborative learning approach with their peers and the SOLO computer software. Their writing skills improved. Evidence showed improvements in vocabulary, background knowledge to better understand required subject knowledge and higher writing scores on benchmark tests.
At the end of the school year, Ms. Cochran and several colleagues were presented with an award and recognized as early classroom adopters who bridged daily instruction through the use of assistive technologies. Read more…
Are you ready?
Is your wish list prepared for the necessary tools and assistive technologies your students need to succeed? Are you talking with your colleagues and school administrators about the importance of this ARRA movement on behalf of students with disabilities? Today, we see a renewed emphasis on the importance of implementing quality assistive technologies, such as text readers to provide universal access for all students, especially those with physical and print disabilities who require access to core instruction materials. The time is now for us (educators, parents, policy makers and businesses) to work together to DREAM BIG for our kids! Let’s make sure all students have the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century. Check out these NEW programs from Don Johnston to help you make universal access a reality for your students and ensure major cost-savings for your schools and districts.
1) Whole-School Unlimited License 2) Accessible Literacy Bundles
Hindie Becker Dershowitz, Diagnostic Specialist for Assistive Technology, Katy ISD, Texas
Video Testimonial - Bringing literacy support to all children
April 2011 - Hindie shares why her school district used ARRA stimulus funds to purchase Start-to-Finish computer books. (0:27)
Read the original press release from the U.S. Department of Education which outlines the second wave of IDEA funds and learn more about the Race to the Top program.
Read Don's Blog about the Race to the Top from Ruth Ziolkowski, our President. We’re in this together…You, President Obama, Congress and the team at Don Johnston.
Are you ready?
Hindie Becker Dershowitz, Diagnostic Specialist for Assistive Technology, Katy ISD, Texas
Read Don's Blog about the Race to the Top from Ruth Ziolkowski, our President. We’re in this together…You, President Obama, Congress and the team at Don Johnston.