Partners Resource Network is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, to serve as a Regional Parent Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). The center provides services to the OSEP-funded Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) in the eight states and two territories of Region 3. The parent centers in Region 3 are independent non-profit organizations, serving families of infants, toddlers, children, and young adults with all types of disabilities in their states and communities. The centers are listed to the right.

Click on a state in the Region 3 map to find that state's Parent Centers list or click here to view a complete list of contact information for all Region 3 Parent Centers.

What's New for Region 3

30th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of IDEA

The Thirtieth Annual Report to Congress (ARC) on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Parts B and C is posted on the ED.gov web site http://www2.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/2008/parts-b-c/index.html and may be accessed via IDEAdata.org https://www.ideadata.org/Links.asp. This ARC includes data from fall 2006 and reference period/school year 2005-06. The 31st, 32nd, 33rd, and 34th ARCs are in various stages of production by the U.S. Department of Education.

IDEA data from fall 2010 and reference period/school year 2009-10 are posted on IDEAdata.org.

For more information about the ARCs, please contact: Rosa Olmeda, at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs Rosa.Olmeda@ed.gov 202-245-6706.

New Section 504/ADA Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released new guidance regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act’s impact on public elementary and secondary education programs. The Dear Colleague Letter and Questions and Answers document discuss how Section 504 and the ADAAA define disability and the obligation of school districts to evaluate students for disability, provide a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities, and provide procedural safeguards for identification, evaluation, and educational placement. See links below for further information and resources.

• Dear Colleague Letter
  http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201109.html
  
  
• Questions and Answers Document
  http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-504faq-201109.html
  
  
• U.S. Department of Education Press Release
  http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/departmenteducation-issues-ada-amendments-act-dear-colleague-letter-provide-gui
  
  
• Blog Post from Russlynn Ali, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
  http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/18/equal-access-education

Additionally, you will soon be receiving the new Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, and Students with Disabilities: From Early Childhood to Young Adulthood training curricula for Parent Centers developed by the National Parent Technical Assistance Center in collaboration with the Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers.

New Report: Analysis State Laws on Seclusion & Restraint

Here is a report from the Autism National Committee we thought you would find useful: How Safe Is The Schoolhouse? An Analysis of State Seclusion and Restraint Laws and Policies. http://www.partnerstx.org/TAC/HowSafeSchoolHouse.pdf

Webinar: Parent Center Standards presented by Robin Blount

• Powerpoint
• Archived recording

Obama Administration Offers Flexibility from No Child Left Behind

The Obama Administration outlined how states can get relief from provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – or No Child Left Behind (NCLB) – in exchange for serious state-led efforts to close achievement gaps, promote rigorous accountability, and ensure that all students are on track to graduate college- and career-ready. Full article >

ED Data Express

The U.S. Department of Education recently launched version 2.0 of its ED Data Express site, an interactive web site that allows users to examine state-level data of many educational factors. http://www.eddataexpress.ed.gov/

Read NICHCY's blog post, Love (Need) Data? ED Data Express Is For You!, for a walkthrough of ED Data Express and learn how to customize charts, graphs and maps to view the information that matters to you. http://nichcy.org/love-need-data-ed-data-express-is-for-you

Writing for the Web

NICHCY's done the research and put together a new resource to help your project reach more web users and increase the amount of time they spend on your website. Our Writing for the Web pages describe how to shape your web content so that it draws readers in and helps them quickly find the info they're looking for. Find Writing for the Web at http://nichcy.org/dissemination/tools/webwriting

Providing Our Schools Relief from No Child Left Behind

Recent blog post from Arne Duncan on the reauthorization of NCLB http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/08/providing-our-schools-relief-from-no-child-left-behind/

White House Press Release - Reauthorization of NCLB

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/08/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-domestic-policy-council-direct

2011 OSEP State Determination Letters

OSEP has posted the 2011 State Determination Letters at http://www2.ed.gov/fund/data/report/idea/sppapr.html

2011 Impact Data Collection Forms

• Cover Letter
• Parent Center Data Collection Form
• Directions for Impact Data Collection Forms for Phone Intakes
• Impact Data Collection: Phone Intakes from Parents
• Directions for Impact Data Collection Forms for Workshops
• Impact Data Collection: Workshops for Parents