Vermont Special Ed Advocates

05/17/2026

Is so nice when the parent of a parent I've been working with reaches out with a note like this. Made my day. ☺️

05/01/2026

If interested, there's a link with information on how to contact Congress to restore OCR.

For families of disabled children, the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education has been the last line of defense when schools deny services, subject children to illegal restraint, or push students out of the classroom. OCR has been where families turn when every other option has been exhausted.

A new Senate HELP Committee report confirms that protection has been effectively dismantled.

The rights guaranteed under Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act do not change with administrations. But enforcement has.

We demand better for our children.

We’re calling for:
- Full restoration of OCR funding and staffing
- Accountability for the thousands of unresolved complaints
- Continued action across courts, states, and communities

Read our full statement: https://dredf.org/the-dismantling-of-ocr-is-a-civil-rights-crisis-for-disabled-students-and-their-families/

04/13/2026

!!!

04/12/2026

Reposting, as summer fast approaches...

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN AN ESY PROGRAM?

The IEP team will meet to determine the unique needs of the eligible child during an ESY program. The program should focus on those goals that are most crucial to help a student maintain certain skills or attain a critical new skill; accordingly, it may or may not address every IEP goal. Transportation should be provided, and the IEP team should be sure to consider the child’s least restrictive environment (LRE).

Read more
👉Extended School Year Services, 71 Fed. Reg. 46582 (Aug. 14, 2006)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2006-08-14/pdf/06-6656.pdf

�https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.copaa.org/resource/resmgr/pdf/esy_fact_sheet.pdf

04/01/2026

Behind every successful classroom is a paraprofessional making it happen. 💙 From supporting students one-on-one to keeping the day running smoothly, your impact reaches far beyond what’s seen. Thank you for showing up, stepping in, and making a difference every single day.

03/31/2026

An important distinction:

02/23/2026

No...you're not imagining it.

The report’s findings mirror longer-term declines in student performance highlighted in federal data.

02/01/2026

Could not agree more.

12/19/2025

11/28/2025

Am grateful to my followers and for the opportunity to work with so many wonderful families. I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!