Here we are, on the front lines of the fight for inclusive education. Now, a month or so into the new school year, we are already in the thick of the fight, and we are seeing numerous lawsuits being filed as things are changing daily. Many of our listeners are already feeling the impact of funding cuts to education. Today’s episode focuses on the actions of the US Department of Education at the beginning of August regarding five school districts in northern Virginia. Join us to learn more.

Show Highlights:

• $50 million is being withheld from the states in the form of formula funding, discretionary grants, and impact aid grants.
• The example of attempted resolutions for trans kids—and the stance of VA school districts who won’t back down
• The far-reaching budget impacts of the withholding of this funding
• The chilling fact: Our children are the ones who suffer the most.
• Practical results in terms of staffing, programs, hiring, and critical services
• The legal perspective and ramifications of this decision
• Look out for the domino effect! Contact your representatives.
• Key takeaways about the federal government’s power and our fragile system
• What you can do today to help

Resources:

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org.

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your rating and review help other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions or concerns: Facebook, Instagram, X, IEP Website, or Email.

Our goal is always to keep people informed about what’s going on in today’s world that directly affects the education of our students. It is essential to consider the communities that are forming within the broader context of the current political climate. How are conversations being navigated around important topics like race and culture? Today’s guest has valuable insights to share! Join us!

Jebeh Edmunds is the founder and CEO of Jebeh Cultural Consulting, a firm that helps disseminate multicultural lesson plans for K-12th grade. Part of her essential work also includes providing training sessions on DEI and cultural responsiveness. Jebeh was a classroom teacher for 18 years before she became an entrepreneur. Proud of her heritage, Jebeh is a first-generation Liberian-American who came to the US as a toddler.

Show Highlights:

• Foundational steps to set yourself up as a culturally responsible educator
• We should ALL learn from our mistakes.
• Watch out for biases.
• Children are capable of having hard conversations.
• Common ineffective strategies around cultural responsiveness:
• “I don’t see color.”
• “We don’t have any people of color here, so we don’t need this lesson.”
• Books help open the door for brave and honest discussions.
• Jebeh’s advice to educators about reacting in “the hot moment” regarding the following:
• Handling harmful statements (You cannot ignore them.)
• Asking for help from your school administrators
• Jebeh’s key takeaway: “Look to families as a resource and support. They are giving you their best resource: their child.”

Resources:

Connect with Jebeh Edmunds: Website (Find resources and courses.) and Jebeh's podcast, Cultural Curriculum Chat with Jebeh Edmunds.

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org.

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your rating and review help other listeners find this show.

Please feel free ​​to connect with us and reach out with any questions or concerns via our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X), our IEP Website, and Email.

We are in the middle of the start of another school year across the country, whether your students have already returned or have a later start date. One of the most important events from last school year was the Supreme Court decision to withhold $65M in federal funding for education, and we are seeing those impacts across the board. Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez is here to unpack the decision and the far-reaching effects. Join us to learn more!

Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez is the CEO at the National Center for Learning Disabilities, an organization that is almost 50 years old. Their mission is to serve ALL students, their families, their educators, and their future employers. Dr. Rodriguez has a background steeped in education, from teaching special education at all levels to being an administrator. Her passion for advocacy and equity for all students is the central theme of her work, always focused on a more inclusive and equitable education system.

Show Highlights:

• The story of the $65M earmarked for DEI efforts—now withheld by the Supreme Court decision
• Who will feel the impacts? Every single student!
• The uproar from multiple states about the withholding of grant money, most of which was to combat the nationwide teacher shortage
• Specific examples of what these grants were doing in teacher retention and residency programs
• The politicization of teacher preparation is a dangerous precedent.
• The average layperson is unaware of what’s happening and what the effects of this decision are.
• The need for awareness and the dangers of staying silent
• Action steps you can take today
• Dr. Rodriguez’s admonition to school leaders, superintendents, and any concerned person who wants to take action

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Rodriguez and the NCLD: Website (Click the “Take Action” tab at the top!)

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org.

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your rating and review help other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions or concerns: Facebook, Instagram, X, IEP Website, and Email.

Welcome back to the podcast as we kick off a new school year! We are excited, as always, to jump into some very important topics in the coming weeks. First up is our amazing guest, Jennifer Catalano, to discuss her work in deaf education and share her perspective on the least restrictive environments for these students. Is it better to have 100% inclusion or 100% special instruction? Let’s learn more from Jennifer’s perspective in today’s episode!

Jennifer Catalano is the director of both undergraduate and graduate deaf education programs at Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. Her background spans deaf education, elementary education, and special education, making her current role the perfect intersection of her experience and expertise. She loves working with current and future teachers to help them serve deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Show Highlights:

• Jennifer’s introduction to deaf education began in high school.
• The recent shift to integrate these students with their peers
• The most important factor is to follow the path for EACH student in finding what’s best for them—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
• The best scenario is a blend of inclusion and special instruction
• LRE should stand for “Language Rich Environment.”
• An overview of Jennifer’s course: The Deaf Ecosystem Course
• A unique approach to getting alumni business owners involved
• The critical language period of the first 5 years of life–and the ripple effects
• Encouraging and promoting inclusive practices, even in the business world

Resources:

Connect with Jennifer Catalano: Flagler College Website and Email

Mentioned in this episode: Deaf President Now documentary

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org.

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your rating and review help other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions or concerns: Facebook, Instagram, X, IEP Website, and Email.

This is our last episode before our much-needed summer break. Taking this break helps us to refocus and prepare for a new school year. We recently made another appearance on the Diverse Thinking Different Learning: A ChildNEXUS podcast with Dr. Karen Wilson, who has also joined us on our podcast before. Today, we are featuring that episode as an overview of what’s been happening, and continuing to happen, in the field of special education in the US since the Trump administration took office. Enjoy the conversation!

Show Highlights:

• An overview of the state of affairs right now in US special education, especially regarding the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education
• Thoughts on the illusion of “giving educational rights back to the states”
• Miscommunication and misinformation about the role and scope of the Department of Education
• A real-life example from San Diego, CA, about a specific grant and its far-reaching impact to students
• Parents feel fear and anxiety because of grant-funded programs and other initiatives that may not be there to support their children.
• The best power the people have is to contact their state and federal representatives.
• DEI initiatives are about much more than race and gender.
• The potential impact on early childhood education programs
• What can YOU do?

Links/Resources:

Connect with Dr. Karen Wilson and her podcast: Diverse Thinking Different Learning: A ChildNEXUS podcast

Mentioned in this episode: 5 Calls App

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: admin@iepcalifornia.org

The landscape of American education has undergone significant changes over the past few months, particularly in the realm of special education. Our diligence in staying informed about developments in our field is more important than ever as we approach the start of a new school year in just a few weeks. Our focus today centers on understanding 504s with our guest, April. Join us to learn more!

April Rehrig is a special education advocate who does things differently. Her experiences as a teacher, mother, and school psychologist for 20 years provide her with a wide-ranging perspective on education and a unique approach to advocacy. She is the founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting and has a passion for helping parents and their children navigate the world of special education.

Show Highlights:

• Shift from IEPs to 504s: The biggest problem is insufficient training.
• The trend of inconsistency in 504s
• April’s perspective on the disconnect between IEP teams and 504 teams
• A huge increase in the number of students who have medical needs, like diabetes, migraines, etc. (These students need a healthcare plan at school!)
• Misconceptions about accommodations, 504 plans, and IEPs
• 504 meetings: What’s happening—and what needs to happen
• The benefits of a student being involved in the 504 meetings in the beginning

Links/Resources:

Connect with April Rehrig: Website (many resources are available!), YouTube, and Instagram

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: admin@iepcalifornia.org

Today’s episode brings back Tracy Baynes to share her best tips and advice for getting your student involved in their education earlier rather than later. She gives practical steps middle school students can take to prepare for college success, even if they are low-income students. Join us to learn more!

Tracy Baynes is the founder, president, and CEO of STEP, the Student Expedition Program. As an instructor in the oceanography field, Tracy noticed the persistent achievement gap between high-income and low-income students. She created the STEP college access and leadership program for low-income high school students, guiding students from their sophomore year through every step of the college application process. STEP includes summer leadership experiences as part of its comprehensive program to prepare students for college.

Show Highlights:

• Advice for parents of middle school students about early algebra exposure, challenging courses, extracurricular activities, college applications, living on campus/off campus, choosing a major, and taking on new challenges in life
• Why doing the hard work in high school really does pay off.
• Quality extracurricular involvement extends beyond school to church and community organizations.
• “How many college applications should my student fill out?”
• Misconceptions about liberal arts colleges
• The benefits of living on campus—at least for the first year
• Tracy’s take on choosing a college major in high school
• Challenging experiences set you up for new successes and more confidence!
• Success stories for 2025 in Tracy’s work with students

Links/Resources:

Connect with Tracy Baynes and STEP: Website and Email

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: admin@iepcalifornia.org

We continue our journey to view the education of our children holistically as we strive to develop them into productive and inclusive members of society. Tracy Baynes joins us to share her interesting work in helping students achieve unimaginable success.

Tracy Baynes is the founder, president, and CEO of STEP, the Student Expedition Program. As an instructor in the oceanography field, Tracy noticed the persistent achievement gap between high-income and low-income students. She wanted to focus her efforts on students who are working hard despite their adverse economic background. In 2004, she established STEP and soon took the first group of students to Alaska for a three-week sea kayaking trip.

Show Highlights:

• The struggle to strive for educational equity for students
• The “rest” of Tracy’s story of finding opportunities for students beyond their financial barriers
• Student successes in the STEP system
• The playing field is NOT level for first-generation college students.
• Tracy’s accounts of students developing strength and defeating imposter syndrome
• DEI does not equal “less than” or “unqualified.”
• Understanding the pathway to success and generational change
• Tracy shares Bill’s success story, and he’s just one of the 750 alumni of STEP!
• Interested in launching a STEP program in your area? Contact Tracy for more information.

Links/Resources:

Connect with Tracy Baynes and STEP: Website

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: admin@iepcalifornia.org