February 9, 2010 at 2:00 PM -3:00 PM ET, Dr. Daryl Mellard and Sarah Prewett will provide an overview of a nationwide study of middle schools that exhibit exemplary RTI practices. Information will be shared about scheduling; staff buy-in; preparation, planning and training for RTI; benefits to students and staff; challenges, next steps, and advice from several middle schools.

Register for the webinar at RTI4success.org

The National Center on Response to Intervention is hosting a free webinar entitled “Interventions in RTI.” This webinar will discuss primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions within a RTI framework. The webinar will include the following types of interventions for both elementary and secondary levels:

• Interventions related to the five components of reading
• Intervention strategies for mathematics

Teachers, school psychologists, related services providers, and administrators will benefit from this webinar. For more information, go to the National Center on Response to Intervention's website.

I have long thought that living as a labeled person requires the skills to live as an alien in a misunderstanding, often hostile, foreign territory. It would be helpful to have an orientation to the ways of the foreign inhabitants. - Judith Snow, social inventor & advocate for inclusion, 1988

This festival explores the expression and construction of ability and disability from multiple perspectives. In what ways do our cultural practices reflect conventions and expectations that make some differences visible while obscuring others? Who and what conspires to compose these defining images and in what ways are they avoided, resisted, negotiated, and challenged? Participants will be intrigued by this mélange of film, conversation, and celebration of the differences that punctuate our community discourses.

For more information, visit their website at http://www.differentfromwhatfilm.com/.

The Equity Alliance at ASU is hosting this Forum February 16 and 17, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, Arizona. The theme for 2010 is Reinvesting in Equity: Tearing Down Walls - Building Bridges. More information coming soon at The Equity Alliance at ASU.

Learn about the many resources available on our NIUSI-LeadScape website by joining this one-hour webtour on Monday, October 19 at 3:00 Eastern (2:00 Central/1:00 Mountain/12:00 Pacific & AZ/11:00 AK/9:00 HI). Your tour guide will be Elaine Mulligan, the Assistant Director of the NIUSI-LeadScape. School leaders, professional development coordinators, educators, parents, technical assistance providers will find useful resources on this site including:

• LeadCast expert blog on inclusive practices • Topical Briefs on research-based practices for improving outcomes • Professional Learning modules • Event announcements • Spotlights on notable work going on around the country • National and selected district data maps

To register for the tour, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=P0QDLIamXX14di7lmw4biQ_3d_3d.

On Wednesday, September 30th, 12 p.m. PST, 3 p.m. EST, NIUSI-LeadScape and the Equity Alliance at ASU presented a one-hour webinar on the topic of Professional Learning for Equity. Participants learned about resources available to use in their own school, district, or setting, as well as the underlying principles of professional learning for equity. Check out this useful and informative webinar online at http://www.equityallianceatasu.org/sites/default/files/Website_files/Professional%20Learning%20for%20Equity%20Webinar%20FINAL.pps

PBS is airing The Principal Story several times this month. Check your local listings for times and channels in your area. Find information about the film at http://www.pbs.org/pov/principalstory/ and local listings at http://www.pbs.org/pov/tvschedule/.

The Principal Story tells two stories, painting a dramatic portrait of the challenges facing America’s public schools — and of the great difference a dedicated principal can make. Tresa Dunbar is a second-year principal at Chicago’s Nash Elementary, where 98% of students come from low-income families; in Springfield, Illinois, Kerry Purcell has led Harvard Park Elementary, with similar demographics, for six years. Tod Lending (Omar & Pete, POV 2005) and David Mrazek followed both women over the course of a school year, discovering each one’s unique styles yet similar passions. The Principal Story takes the viewer along for an emotional ride that reveals what effective educational leadership looks like in the 21st century.

LeadScape principals are looking forward to the 2009 LeadScape Summer Institute, July 14-17 in Washington, DC. This year our professional learning activities focus on creating classroom practices that involve ALL children in learning, including examining issues of power and privilege, cultural responsive literacy, and creating resilient classrooms. Special guest Beth Doll will show how to create class maps to help improve relationships and outcomes using student and teacher input. Some of our principals will also have the opportunity to meet with their local Congressional representatives!

Register for the Equity Alliance at ASU’s Webinar, Building Inclusive Schools! Education that achieves equitable access, participation, and outcomes for all students involves much more than simply placing all students in the general education classroom and exposing them to curriculum designed for so-called typical students. Instead, inclusive education is grounded in the belief that there is no typical student, and is achieved by creating schools where curriculum, instruction, and assessment are universally designed for all students’ learning, and build upon their wonderfully varied backgrounds, experiences, interests, and learning styles. This one-hour webinar will present the multiple levels at which schools have to work to create inclusive learning communities and provide concrete suggestions and examples for doing so. Participants will be provided with activities to take and try in their own settings, so that they may engage others in learning about and creating inclusive schools where all students belong, are included, and are empowered.

The Building Inclusive Schools webinar will be on Thursday, May 28, 12 p.m. PST, 3 p.m. EST.

Reducing Disproportionality in Special Education: The Regional Resource Center Program has prepared a series of webinars, Disproportionality: Reducing Disproportionality in Special Education—Together We Can!! Five sessions in total will take place February-May, 2009. Topics include Introduction to the Series, Beyond Compliance, Intervention, Addressing Systemic Issues, and Roles and Responsibilities for Moving Forward. Space is limited and participants are required to pre-register for each webinar, so it is recommended to register early.