The California Teacher Credentialing will be hosting a webcast covering special education teaching and services credential regulation changes on August tenth. County offices will be hosting the webcast. CARS+ will be providing the updated information on our website. For information on the current status of the authorizations, please see the members' only section.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has launched an initiative to make California the first state in the nation to offer schools free, open-source digital textbooks for high school students. The Governor directed his Secretary of Education Glen Thomas to ensure these resources are available for use in high school math and science classes by fall 2009, a critical first step in helping ensure digital textbooks are widely available to all California students. See the full article for additional information.

The Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) for students with disabilities is currently accepting applications for California?s youths with disabilities for July 24-29, 2010. This program encourages youths with disabilities to develop their leadership skills. Students will have the opportunity to live on the California State University, Sacramento campus and join more than 900 alumni from across the state that have been a part of this unique program created specifically for young leaders with disabilities. This all-expense paid activity (including transportation). Space is limited (only 50 to 60 slots are available).

Go to www.calylf.org for more information and a copy of the application and instructions. If you experience any difficulty in filling out the application, please contact the Department of Rehabilitation, Dani Anderson at danderso@dor.ca.gov or Voice 916-558-5407 or TTY 916-558-5403.

The hard work, commitment and passion of those who work in special education classrooms will be recognized on December 3rd, which has been declared "The Day of the Special Educator" by CARS+, the California Organization for Special Educators. Before President Gerald Ford signed the nation's first special education law on December 2, 1975, many students were denied access to education and opportunities to learn. That all changed with Public Law 94-142, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which assures a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to all children with disabilities

The Califomia Advisory Commission on Special Education created the Grazer Outstanding Achievement Leaming (GOAL) award that is named after Hollywood producer, Brian Grazer; to award innovative and exemplary programs/practices benefitting students with disabilities. The award includes a cash reward of 2,000 dollars to use towards the program, recognition by CDE and State Superintendent and Advisory Commission for Special Education as well as an article in the Special Edge. Download the application. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2010. For more information see the CDE web page for the GOAL award.

CARSPLUS now has an official Facebook site. Join others as friends and colleagues in discussing special education topics or other issues.

Recently the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) was given a grant from the federal government to make membership to the largest library of audio books accessible to students with disabilities. For some of our students that have difficulty comprehending vast amounts of information from a printed text the material from RFB&D may be very helpful. Individual memberships are now free to students who qualify. A draft parent letter with the steps needed to enroll, the enrollment form, and additional information are on the assistive technology page in the members' only section.

Bookshare can help your students gain access to a growing online library of over 50,000 digital books including hundreds of textbooks! It's easy to use and FREE for qualified U.S. students, thanks to an award from the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs. 

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing will only renew credentials through an online process. Click HERE for more information.

The amendments to Section 80021 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations pertaining to Multiple Subject, Single Subject or Education Specialist Short-Term Staff Permits have been approved by the Office of Administrative Law. The change to section 80021 clarifies the definitions for "acute staffing need&"; and "end of the school year"; for the Short-Term Staff Permit. The text of the regulations can be found HERE

CARS+ has been involved in the "Community of Practice" through the efforts of our board and local membership. Read more about this promising development in this article by expert Richard DuFour.

What are other organizations saying about Response to Intervention? Read the position paper of the Council for Exceptional Children here.