NASES Legislative Advocacy and Leadership Conference

Tuesday, February 6
10:30  Special Education Legislative Update via Zoom - Dr. Michael Dulaney, Executive Director, NCSA
Join Dr. Mike Dulaney for a virtual legislative update that will provide you details on the landscape of the Legislature and help prepare you for your senator meeting. 
The Zoom link will be sent to all conference registrants on Monday, February 5.

Thursday, February 8
8:00-11:30 Registration and Work Room
Participants are welcome to check-in at the Cornhusker before and after their senator appointments to work and connect with colleagues and meet with NDE personnel.

8:00  Appointments with Senators
The very best way to influence your State Senator is to meet on his or her turf at the Capitol. Be sure to contact your senator in advance to arrange a short meeting before 11:30 a.m. on February 8.   We encourage you to bring the following to your meeting:
        1.   A student success story...make it real!
        2.  Your District’s Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP) showing high expectations for special ed.
        3.  If available, any data showing how you are closing the gap for students with disabilities. 
For a complete list of the 2024 Nebraska Unicameral Legislature, please visit: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_list.php

11:30 Lunch and Legislative Debrief

1:00 Roundtables
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and share on multiple topics:
o   Teacher Retention Efforts
o   Educator Shortage Solutions
o   ABA Therapy in Schools
o   Fostering Inclusion through the NeMTSS Framework
o   Preschool LRE Toolkit
o   Creating Continuity for Systems-Involved Students

4:00 NASES General Business Meeting

5:00 Social at Code Beer
Kickback and catch up with your colleagues from across the state over beverages and snacks.

Friday, February 9

7:30-8:30 New NASES Member 
A leadership hour for new NASES members and their mentors.  To attend: Check the box on regsistration indicating you plan to attend.

8:00 Conference Breakfast 

8:30 Welcome and NDE Report

9:00 Don’t Dys Me: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia Disputes with KSB School Law
Over the last few years, there has been an increase in disputes centering around the verification of students in the category of Specific Learning Disability (SLD).  Verifying students in this area is complicated by conflicting regulations, guidance, and case law regarding the appropriate identification model and the utility of reaching a specific “diagnosis.” While the previously popular "severe discrepancy model" is falling out of favor with educational and legal experts, significant concerns remain about the MTSS model inappropriately delaying the identification of a student with a disability.  Further, more parents are seeking specific diagnoses such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia that neither of the evaluation models are intended to provide or specifically align with.  As a result, disputes often center on whether a school district has appropriately determined a student with SLD's need for special education and related services.  This session will explore these conflicts and uncertainties in identifying students with SLD by highlighting the latest trends in case law and the widely variant guidance from the state and federal levels.

10:00 Break

10:15 How to Cultivate Shared Responsibilities with General Ed Teachers 

12:00 Adjourn