By Jimmy Gunnell, IAASE President
November 2011

Another year is off and running! Our 13th Annual Fall Conference was a huge success and provided a great start to the new school year. As one of the largest and most active special education administrators’ organizations, IAASE was once again recognized by our national organization, CASE, with the “Outstanding Achievement Award” for professional development and the “Exemplary Unit Award” for overall excellence!

The IAASE Executive Board is gearing up for another year of special education advocacy, professional development, and proactive power as a unified leadership organization. Building on last year’s initiative, President-Elect Gineen O’Neil and I are committed to canvassing the state by attending one IAASE regional meeting in each of the seven regions. Thus far, participating in these regional meetings has led to a better understanding of the uniqueness of each region, but more importantly, identified many commonalities across the great State of Illinois. Recognizing commonalities across the state, coupled with respecting regional differences, is critical to our success at reallocating special education funds in a manner that (a) reinforces LRE and (b) is consistent with our desire to equally reimburse school districts for students with the greatest needs who generate the highest costs--regardless of whether they are in a public or nonpublic placement. In response to a woefully underfunded system of supports for special education programs and services, the Finance Committee continues to examine the inequities in the state special education funding formulas. It is essential for all special education administrators to find creative ways to increase special education funding and ease the financial burden on school districts.

IAASE is maintaining its position to promote change by serving on various statewide committees and task forces. Our collective voices are well represented in many areas including the Lt. Governor’s Classrooms First Commission, the Illinois statewide RtI Governing Board, and the Performance Evaluation Council to name a few. The Classrooms First Commission is charged with finding ways to improve efficiency and learning opportunities in Illinois’ more than 860 school districts. Consolidation is one of several models to be reviewed. A report is due to the Governor and General Assembly next summer. The Illinois Statewide RtI Governing Board is being implemented under a grant and builds on the work already begun under Illinois ASPIRE. The RtI network will provide standardized professional development, technical assistance, and coaching to district and school teams and parents throughout the state. IAASE maintains its steadfast position on the Performance Advisory Council (PEAC). It is imperative that our voices are heard to assure that in Illinois we focus on appropriate, measureable goals for learners with disabilities and the use of multiple measures to assess student learning. Using multiple measures should provide reliable, valid and meaningful student growth data.

Our continued success as an organization stems from dedicated and talented members who are committed to creating solutions and promoting change. Given all that is happening in special education and in education in general, it will be critical for all special education administrators to stay abreast of any changes legislatively and programmatically. An efficient and effective way to stay current on special education news and events is to become a member of IAASE.

Make it a great school year!
Jimmy Gunnell
jgunnell@aerosped.org