by Common Ground | Feb 8, 2023 | Capitols, Parents, Q&A, Students
The Biden administration has issued new school discipline guidelines aimed at cutting back on high rates of suspension and expulsion for students with disabilities by clarifying rules that the nation’s schools are required to follow. The guidance is considered to be...
by Common Ground | Feb 8, 2023 | Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case centering on how families and schools go about resolving disputes over services for students with disabilities. The case, Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, raises two important questions under the Individuals with...
by Common Ground | Feb 7, 2023 | Snapshot
In 2022, the United States saw its largest drops between testing periods since the exam was first administered in 1969. Math scores fell an average of five points for fourth-graders and eight points for eighth-graders since 2019. Reading scores fell an average of...
by Common Ground | Jul 20, 2022 | Features
Less than 50 years ago, students in the United States with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, and other conditions were routinely turned away from school because of their disabilities. Today, they are entitled to a free and appropriate public education....
by Common Ground | Jun 16, 2022 | Professionals, Students, Teachers
By Dr. Anthony Hadzimichalis, Ed.D. Mental health issues have taken a front row seat in the classroom. Following pandemic-related interruptions, students of all ages and backgrounds are experiencing higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress, phobias, and grief....
by Common Ground | Jun 16, 2022 | Better IEPs, Professionals, Teachers
By Cari Carlson, Esq., MSW School can be a challenge for students with mental health conditions. Some students struggle to concentrate, sit still or follow directions. Others might have difficulty learning due to depression, anxiety, mood swings, psychosis or behavior...
by Common Ground | Jun 15, 2022 | Features, Parents, Students, Teachers
Even before COVID-19, the National Institute of Mental Health estimated that one in five people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, and one in four Americans currently knows someone who has a mental health condition. There is a ripple...
by Common Ground | Jun 15, 2022 | Parents, Professionals, Students, Teachers
1. Learning is an intrinsically social and interactive process, and social, emotional and behavioral competence is essential for all kinds of learning. Students are most successful academically when they can manage their behavior and emotions. Positive mental health...
by Common Ground | Jun 15, 2022 | Professionals, Q&A, Teachers
For therapists, teachers, case managers, and others in ‘helping fields,’ the act of witnessing and listening to trauma stories can take an emotional toll. It can compromise professional functioning and diminish the quality of life, adding to feelings of burn out and...
by Common Ground | Jun 14, 2022 | Students
By Sarah Jeanne Browne “You seem too smart to have a learning disability.” “You have to actually think in this class.” “I have trouble with math too.” “It’s not hard.” “You can do X so why can’t you do Y?”...