Reform Efforts in Pennsylvania
The NDEP has been assisting stakeholders in Pennsylvania in developing a strong and effective reform plan. We have met 3 times and will meet again in March, 2006.
ERCHL - Educational Resources for Children with Hearing Loss - is an effective stakeholder group and represents teachers, administrators, the state department of education, parents and families, and other professionals involved in the education of deaf and hard of hearing students in the state.
The " Pennsylvania " plan is taking shape as follows:
- Eight major goals will be drafted following the 8 goals of the National Agenda [have link here to the NA]
- The underlying purpose of the 8 goals will be to develop a communication and language-driven educational paradigm in Pennsylvania to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing students receive an appropriate, academically strong, and communication and language-rich education.
Once ERCHL completes its written report and plan, it will develop specific strategies to implement the goals, including providing families with information and training about the goals.
ERCHL is also considering other strategies, including a "bill of rights" and other action to insure that its goals are met.
We will keep you posted as the " Pennsylvania " plan evolves.
State Reform Strategy
As we have reported, the state of Pennsylvania is developing an exciting plan for changing the way deaf and hard of hearing students are educated. The stakeholders in Pennsylvania follow efforts in California , New Mexico , Colorado , and Arkansas [links to those states].
As more and more states address the important issues facing our children, a kind of snowballing affect takes place, each subsequent state building on the work of others until an exciting and important "movement" takes shape that can affect other states (and more importantly other children) and federal policy.
If you are interested in starting such an effort in your state please contact us