HARVARD INSTITUTE
Collaborative Executive Director, David Riley, co-chairs Harvard University's Annual Summer Institute on Critical Issues in Urban Special Education. Institute topics change yearly and are intended for urban public school leaders.
Critical Issues in Urban Special Education
Improving
Outcomes for Middle and High School Students with Disabilities
July 14-18, 2008
This year's institute on Critical Issues in Urban Special Education focuses on identifying and exploring systemic approaches to improving academic, behavioral, and post-school outcomes for students with disabilities in urban middle and high schools.
To date, reforms have often been programmatic, resulting in fragmentation and uncertainty surrounding how to effectively change practice. This year's institute is grounded in systems change research and lessons learned from failed reform initiatives and successful program development in general, alternative, and special education. The institute emphasizes prevention, intervention, instructional, and organizational strategies that enhance student engagement and performance--and increase the liklihood of students staying in school and graduating.
The knowledge base and working perspectives that best inform investments of scarce resources are analyzed--using evidence from the National Longitudinal Transition Studies and research in school reform, systems change, dropout prevention, student engagement, and closing the achievement gap. Faculty and participants consider planning frameworks and practical examples from general education, alternative education, and special education that hold promise for achieving better student outcomes.
For more information and to register, please click here.
2008 Harvard Institute Faculty and Presentations
Richard Elmore, Professor of Educational Leadership, Co-Director, Consortium for Policy Research in Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education. Elmore is currently exploring how schools of different types and in different policy contexts develop a sense of accountability and a capacity to deliver high quality instruction.
Ronald Ferguson, Lecturer in Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government; Faculty Co-chair and Director, Achievement Gap Initiative, Harvard University. Ferguson’s teaching and publications cover a variety of issues related to education and economic development. His research focuses on racial achievement gaps.
Thomas Hehir, Institute Co-Chair, Professor of Practice in Education, Director, School Leadership Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education.Hehir is the former director of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs. As director, he was responsible for federal leadership in implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). He also served as Associate Superintendent for Special Education and Pupil Support Services in Chicago and Director of Special Education in Boston.
David Riley, Institute Co-Chair, Executive Director, Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative, Education Development Center (EDC), Newton, MA. Riley also serves in leadership positions on several federally-funded initiatives, including the National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities.
Stanley Trent, Assistant Dean for Diversity and Equity, Associate Professor of Special Education, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia. His current research includes multicultural teacher training in special education and inclusive education practices in urban schools.
John Verre, Institute Co-Chair, Director, Compass Consulting, Boston, MA. Compass, a non-profit organization, provides technical assistance to public schools on programs and services for special populations of students—students with disabilities, students of color, English language learners, and students placed at risk of failure.
Registration Information
Members of the Collaborative receive a 10% discount off the Institute's tuition. For more information about this year's Institute, to request a program brochure, or to register, please contact:
Harvard Graduate School of Education
14 Story Street, 3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (800) 545-1849
Fax: (617) 496-8051
Web: http://www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe/
