Page 1 of 2 West Virginia Council for Exceptional Children Assembly Meeting October 7, 2009 Oglebay Park and Resort, Wheeling, WV Agenda

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IV. V.

VI. VII.

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Erin Sullivan, WV CEC President. A big THANK YOU to all 39 attendees of the annual Assembly Meeting of the WV CEC 2009. Attendees: Members=14: Lynn Allen, Lorraine Elswick, Melissa Given, Shelby Haines, Jackie Insch, Kim Kehrer, Mary Nunn, Stefanie Ostrawski, Linda Palenchar, Karen Ruddle, Doug Sturgeon (Ohio member), Deena Swain, Kellie Swisher, Roberta Unger. Nonmembers=25: Juliann Allman, Jeanie Beckett, Rebecca Blankenship, Josie Burch, Rosemary Cook, Michael Copley, Anita Estel, Mary Pat Farrell, Kim Gongola, Mary Grace, Susie Grilli, Peggy Hannah, Jim Harris, Denise Huggins, Amy Littell, D. Macri, Emily McGuire, Debbie Novotny, Nancy Null, Claudia Raymer, Kristi Vermillion, Sherry Webb, Diana Wellman, Valerie Wilson, and Mary Ann Young. Secretary’s Report-Karen Ruddle submitted the written secretary’s report. No corrections were voiced, and the report was accepted as submitted. Participants in the annual assembly meeting were asked to sign in and indicate membership in CEC. All reports will be posted online at the new WV CEC website and link to be sent by email. Treasurer’s Report-Lorraine Elswick submitted the treasurer’s report and the proposed budget for the next year. There were no questions or corrections, and the report was accepted as submitted. President’s Report-Erin Sullivan submitted a written report which included a national update and the WV CEC report. The national CEC Conference will be in Nashville, TN this year April 2124, 2010. The executive board of the WV CEC completed a PATH that resulted in a focus on membership development. Each board member sent personal notes to members and some past members of WV CEC. It was noted that membership is declining. The executive board requests that any suggestions for improving services to WV teachers/members be submitted. The WV Chapter gets a small rebate when individuals join and if the individual identifies WV for membership. The state conference allows for networking of special educators and others. Erin thanked all individuals who were involved in the development of the 2009 Conference, especially to Shelby Haines who coordinated this 2009 Conference. The report was accepted as submitted. President-Elect’s Report: Shelby Haines reported on development of the 2009 Conference and recognized the donations of various individuals Vice-president’s Report: Mary Nunn submitted her written report with ideas for the 2010 Conference and requested that anyone with suggestions submit them to her at the email address indicated on her report. The report was accepted as submitted. Student Division Report: Savannah Jiles has consented to be the new student division member from WVU who will be focusing on development of student membership. Standing Committee Reports: All reports were accepted as submitted.

2009 WV CEC Conference

Assembly Meeting 10/7/09

Page 2 of 2 a. Membership: Nancy Hill will lead efforts to increase membership and has begun with a table for CEC membership at the 2009 Conference. b. CAN and Diversity: Roberta Unger submitted written reports for both CAN and Diversity. c. Yes I Can!: Erin Sullivan discussed the Yes I Can! Awards for 2009 and encouraged attendees at the 2009 Conference to stay for the luncheon on Thursday for the awards. Families of the two recipients are excited that their children are being honored this year and will be present for the luncheon. d. Awards and Nominations: Erin Sullivan reported on the Member of the Year recipient for 2009, Dr. Michael Sullivan, who has had a long term commitment to the field of special education. He will be presented with the award at the general session on Thursday, if present. Two elected positions are open for nomination, Treasurer and Vice President. e. Communications/Publications: Melissa Given reported that she is building a new website with the assistance of Valerie Wilson. An email will be sent to all members once the site is active. The site will be linked with National CEC. VIII. Unfinished Business-No unfinished business was identified. IX. New Business a. Election of Officers: Erin continued the discussion regarding election of officers. Two elected positions are open for nomination, Treasurer and Vice President. Lorraine Elswick has agreed to be nominated and serve as Treasurer for another 2 year term if elected. Deena Swain has agreed to be nominated and serve as Vice President if elected. No additional nominations from the assembly were submitted; therefore, Lorraine and Deena are newly elected officers as described previously. The meeting was adjourned by Erin Sullivan, President, and members/nonmembers were thanked for their attendance. Respectfully submitted by Karen Ruddle, Secretary WV CEC

2009 WV CEC Conference

Assembly Meeting 10/7/09

WVCEC Executive Board Meeting Treasurer’s Report Bridgeport Conference Center November 2, 2010

Cash on Hand

$11,861.25 (9/30/10 BB&T Bank Statement) (Yes, I Can Account: $1623.12)

Certificate of Deposit:

$7,492.52

Total Assets

$19,353.77

Conference 2010

Revenue from Registrations (119) $ 5621.00 Revenue from Vendors

$ 1125.00

Donations

$

Total revenue to date

$ 6746.00

.00

(Lunch 11/3/2010 – $736)

Conference Expenses to date (Deposit – Bridgeport Conference Center)

$ 3600.00

Outstanding (including lunches)

$ 5201.75

Respectfully submitted: Lorraine Ciambotti Elswick, Treasurer_

WV CEC Vice President Report 38th Annual Conference November 3rd and 4th, 2010 Bridgeport Conference Center 2010 Exhibitors: • Center for Excellence in Disabilities: Parent Network (Sandra Buchanan) • Center for Excellence in Disabilities: Medicaid Infrastructure (Angela Vaught) • Compass Learning (Marilyn Perry) • Dynavox Mayer-Johnson (Stacy Riegel) • Firelight Books (Nancy Nichols) • Solution Tree (Lisa Williams) • Talent Assessment, Inc. (David Cloninger) • Voyager Learning (Steve McBride) • Education Associates (Eric Lehmann) $1250.00 Revenue from Exhibitors 2011 Conference (Tentative) • Grand Pointe Conference Center, Parkersburg, WV • Week of October 24th to 28th or November 1st to 4th • Topic: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) o UDL is a research-based set of principles for creating curriculum—including instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments—that provide all individuals with greater opportunities to learn.  Present information and content in different ways  Differentiate the ways that students can express what they know  Stimulate interest and motivation for learning • Reasons o The Common Core State Standards Initiative endorses UDL as a way to improve access to standards-based learning for all students. o National Educational Technology Plan gives a strong endorsement of UDL principles.

•

Possible Strands o Technology and Assistive Technology o Autism o Use in Tiered Instruction (Emphasis on Tier One) o Post Secondary (Work of ATC with Marshall University ASD Program)

President-Elect’s Report on WVCEC 2010 Conference Executive Board Meeting; November 2, 2010 The 2010 Annual WVCEC Conference is being held here at the Bridgeport Conference Center tomorrow and Thursday( November 3 & 4, 2010). Program • The Keynote speaker on Wednesday morning is Cynthia Allen Nixon, Ed.D. Her address, “Finding Their Way – Making Transition Work” will focus primarily on adolescent transitions. Dr. Nixon is a actively involved in transition activities in her state (SC) and national level and is an active member of CEC and DCCT. • Pat Homberg was to speak at the Wednesday general session also, but had to cancel; consequently, Linda Palenchar will be speaking on behalf of Pat. • In the General Session on Thursday, we have Jennie Elkins presenting Alan’s Story. Alan is her 27 year old son with autism. The video she will show and her remarks will focus on Alan’s successful transitions and his life now as an adult. • The keynote speaker on Thursday is LuAnn summers from DRS who will describe “Community Rehabilitation Programs”, including those that are most current and promising. • There are 16 concurrent sessions, including a special two-hour session hands-on, interactive session on Digital Storytelling. The levels addressed in the sessions range from Pre-K thorough adulthood, including college. Although the program does not have distinct strands, The concurrent sessions have been organized, to the extent possible, so that during each time block that should be a session of interest to 1) those who work with younger children from Pre-K through elementary and middle school and/or with students with more severe disabilities; 2) those who work with adolescents in middle and high school; and 3) those who work with students who are adults and/or those soon to exit public school. Hopefully, individuals who work with adolescents who want to attend college will attend the sessions pertaining to higher education access and self-determination, because the information would be helpful in preparing their students for this post-secondary setting. Publicity Announcements of the Conference were distributed to various email listservs and posted on the website. The Registration Brochure, Call for Presentation and Presentation Proposal Submission Form are all posted on the website later. Inn addition, approximately 240 registration brochures were mailed to all members and others on a mailing list. In addition, to being posted on the WVCEC website, the Call for Presentations and Presentation Proposal Submission Form were mailed and emailed to specifically to numerous individuals by several members of the Executive Board. Registrations As of October 30, 2010, we had received a total of 114 pre-registrations; 47 registered for the luncheon on Wednesday and 43 registered for the Awards Luncheon.

Expenses: Dr. Nixon: $800.00 -$1200 depending on travel expenses. She is driving from SC and has a hotel room for one night at the Winfield at the conference rate (on my credit card). Music at Reception $ 80.00 Staples (printing of 125 programs) $841.43 Bridgeport conference Center $ Expenses of President-elect: Stamps: CEC logo products: Badge ribbons Trip to BBC (pre-conference) Door prizes

$132.00 $ 72.50 $ 41.05. $ 22.64 (This is actual cost of gas, not mileage) $ ?????

I want to thank each and every Executive Board member for her help in getting everything done to conduct this Conference. You: • identified speakers, • printed brochures and other materials, • did graphics for publicity documents and the printed program, • formatted the registration brochure and sections of the printed programs, • sent me information I needed to complete the program, • posted information on the web and Facebook, • contacted CEC about the membership discount and member ribbons, • created and maintained a database of pre-registrations, • handled all vendor communications and logistics, • volunteered to bring and/or help with equipment needs, • took care of awards and the agenda for the Awards Luncheon; • pitched in to find another speaker for Thursday’s general session when Pat Homberg’s schedule changed twice, and • helped in many other ways. . Thank you all! I could not have done this job without your help! Mary E. Nunn President-Elect

West Virginia Council for Exceptional Children Annual Child Action Network (CAN) Report November 3, 2010 – by Roberta Unger Throughout the year our congressmen were contacted to support funding gifted education, as it was zeroed out – (all that previous hard work to get Javits supported for naught). The WV CAN coordinator also attended the annual CAN meeting at CEC’s annual convention in Nashville, TN, Friday, April 23, 2010. Introductions of CAN Coordinators were made and the political Washington D.C. climate was briefly described, especially in light of the upcoming primaries for the states’ candidates for the 435 seats in the House of Representatives that will be up for election. The Senate has 36 seats up for election with 17 Representatives and 11 Senators retiring. The Annual CAN Meeting and its lobbying activities on “the hill” was announced for June 12 to 15, 2010. The FY2011 Budget Book will be distributed at that time, which was a change in protocol. CEC is concerned that the new education initiatives don’t address the special education population. The entitlement programs, which are the biggest part of the deficits, encourage people not to support education. CEC is concerned with how education will work with the new common core standards and the lack of funds for special education. The recent legislative initiatives were reviewed (Health care, Restraint and Seclusion, ESEA Reauthorization, Early Childhood, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) via handout and overhead. I. Health Care Reform and its impact on individuals with disabilities and their families was reviewed: • insurance market reforms (e.g. elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions, annual and lifetime caps); • An expansion of Medicaid eligibility to 133% of the federal poverty line with significant federal supports; • The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act to create a nationwide voluntary long term services insurance program; • The Community First Choice Medicaid Option to give states increased incentives to provide comprehensive home and community services; and • Several Improvements to existing Medicaid home and community-based programs to provide more incentives for non-institutional supports. • New Caps to Flexible Spending Accounts - $2,500 • II. Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools CEC’s policy guided Congress, it passed the House, but has trouble in the Senate; there was one sponsor, Chris Dodd and he is retiring. II. Keeping All Students Safe Acts established minimum standards for appropriate use of R&S: For Emergency use only Limits use of R&S is not to be used as a planned intervention Classroom and safety plans okay Not to be included on IEP or Individual Plan Authorized funding to expand professional development for all school staff.

III. ESEA Reauthorization is supported by Duncan Blueprint for ESEA Reauthorization – New goals – all students will graduate ready for college New reforms – raise standards - reward excellence and growth - increase local control and flexibility while maintaining the focus on equity and closing achievement gaps - eliminates some mandates in NCLB (100% proficiency by 2014) - retains elements of NCLB, disaggregation of data for subgroups Controversial issues of the Blueprint are: Rewarding excellence of teachers and administrators based-in part on student growth - Supporting common standards - Supporting common assessments for consortia of states - Expansion of Race to the Top program (focus on reforms) little research for merit pay- Expanding charter schools Supporting turnaround models which remove school personnel and leadership from persistently low-performing schools. - Program consolidations (38 programs into 11 funding streams) - Greater emphasis on competitive grant programs. About special education, there is a small section about meeting the needs of diverse learners, but most is infused in all other areas e.g. teacher prep, universal design. - increase support for inclusion and improved outcomes of students with disabilities - help ensure teachers and leaders are better prepared to meet needs of diverse learners - assessments accurately and appropriately measure student performance - universally designed curricula and instructional supports to address student needs. - college pathways and accelerated learning: access to gifted and talented education programs at elementary and middle school levels - college-level work through AP, IB, dual enrollment programs - focus on high schools with low graduation rates (gifted in elementary and middle school) IV. Early Childhood Education – big changes with a new position assistant to- only early childhood - Early Learning Challenge Grant – new challenges - Priority in RTTT and Investing in Innovation Grants - Expansion within Title I formula - Professional Development - Promise Neighborhoods – coordination with special education and early intervention services.

V. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act- $100 Billion Investment in Education (ARRA forced states to change- but now funding is back down to 17% full funding, IDEA Part B increased, Parts C and B level funded but Part D decreased) - State Fiscal Stabilization Fund - $48.6 Billion to fill budget gaps in states - Race to the Top - $4.36 Billion to implement education reforms - IDEA - $12.2 Billion for Part B, 619, Part C in formula grants to states - Title I - $10 Billion in formula grants to states The meeting ended on a grim note. The focus of this year’s annual CAN meeting at CEC Headquarters in Arlington, VA was the alignment of IDEA and ESEA (known as NCLB), as Congress is preparing to reauthorize (rewrite) ESEA. The meeting began on Sat. June 12 and lasted until Tues. June 15, 2010. Senator Byrd was ill and Representative Mollohan was not in Washington D.C. and his office was all but shut down. The WV CAN coordinator mailed the CEC informational packets to the congressmen. The CAN Coordinators 1) heard about the Administration’s efforts to better align IDEA and ESEA from Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education and 2) heard from key Congressional staff and association leaders about ESEA reauthorization and issues related to special/gifted education 3) attended a briefing on Capitol Hill focused on IDEA/ESEA alignment featuring the film “Including Samuel” and the film’s director (and Samuel’s father) Dan Habib; Isaiah Habib (Samuel’s brother); Cyndi Chappel (CEC 2010 Teacher of the Year); and Greg LaMore (CEC CAN Coordinator, Michigan); 4) attended an award presentation to honor Congressman Mike Castle with CEC’s Outstanding Public Service Award at the new Capitol visitor’s center 5) heard the latest advocacy techniques ( always put a personal note into a form letter, it will get bumped up in priority) and Lisa Dieker (Dr. Weinke’s past student) CAN Coordinator for TED was awarded CEC’s 2010 CAN Coordinator of the Year award for getting students involved in the policy process 6) discussed and debated pressing policy issues, such as pay for performance and charter schools (actually this discussion was the best part of the meeting) and 7) attended the Kennedy Center’s Jazz Festival and scoped out the D.C. Gaylord Convention Center and surrounding community, south of D.C., as it is April 2011 CEC’s convention site.

West Virginia Council for Exceptional Children Annual Diversity Report November 3, 2010 - by Roberta Unger Officially CEC supports diversity, as it is embedded in all of its policy and each Division has a representative, who meet at the annual convention. Diversity is in the news media all of the time. I spent July in CA – hispanics I believe, are reclaiming CA and knowing how to understand and speak Spanish is very important, as the state is bilingual plus! The American Indian Caucus had a small attendance at the Nashville convention, although we did get volunteers to staff the table in the EXPO. A Pueblo young man won a “Yes I CAN” award and his teacher was selling Indian jewelry. The Caucus donated money, earned through the selling of chances for donated items, to help the man with expenses (he took his grandmother to dinner!). The CAN Coordinator and Diversity Chair attended and submitted written reports to the board for its meetings.