learning connectionS 
 
 
Mrs. Hegan ~ 5/6 Gr. Resource Room Teacher ~ Thomaston Grammar School ~ jhegan@msad50.org mailto:jhegan@msad50.orgshapeimage_3_link_0
Mrs. Hegan ~ Thomaston Grammar School ~ 207-354-6353 ~ jhegan@msad50.org mailto:jhegan@msad50.orgshapeimage_4_link_0
 
 
This Action Page offers a variety of links to websites that provide information and address current issues in special education. Special education regulations and policies are federally mandated first, then defined and refined by the state of Maine. MSAD 50 aligns its policies with federal and state requirements. Currently, special education regulations and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 1975) are being revised and will be finalized by the 2007-2008 school year. The following federal, state and privately sponsored websites may offer guidance and help make sense of the multi-leveled set of guidelines and policies. FEDERAL LINK: www.Ed.gov is the website for the U.S. Department of Education. It’s features include the coordinating structure of offices, general inquiries that will address questions around NCLB (No Child Left Behind Act) and other civil right issues, current White House initiatives, and state information and contacts. STATE LINKS: www.Maine.gov is a portal for all state agencies. www.mpf.org (Maine Parent Federation) is a valuable and informative resource for parents. This website is a statewide private, non-profit organization that promotes individual aspirations for all people by providing information, advocacy, education and training to parents and professionals to benefit all children. DISTRICT LINK: www.msad50.org provides district information, policies and key contact people within the district. PRIVATE LINKS: www.NCLD.org is the National Center for Learning Disabilities, an online resource for parents, educators, and individuals with learning disabilities. This website provides an advocacy forum for parents of students with learning disabilities, a voice for individuals with learning disabilities, a message board and chat room for parents, as well as current federal policy updates related to learning disabilities. www.ldonline.org is an invaluable website that explains everything one needs to know about a learning disability in a friendly, approachable manner. It also provides extremely helpful and informative information about what to look for and why children struggle with learning. LD OnLine has many valuable links to other related websites as well. personally, I have referred many parents colleagues and students to LD OnLine for a vast number of reasons. It is by far the best and most thorough website related to struggling learners. The Learning Toolbox has been developed to be responsive to the specific needs of students with learning disabilities and ADHD. It includes tools and strategies to help students, teachers and parents. Features of this website include reduced amount of text for reading, use of graphics to enhance the meaning of reading material, a consistent structure of assessing the various Learning Toolbox sites, and elimination of distracting stimuli such as non-purposeful animations and sound effects. http://www.Ed.govhttp://www.Maine.govhttp://www.mpf.orghttp://www.msad50.orghttp://www.NCLD.orghttp://www.ldonline.orghttp://coe.jmu.edu/Learningtoolbox/aboutus.htmshapeimage_7_link_0shapeimage_7_link_1shapeimage_7_link_2shapeimage_7_link_3shapeimage_7_link_4shapeimage_7_link_5shapeimage_7_link_6
Parent Information Notables: We are excited to enter the new school year as an Expeditionary Learning (EL) school. The 5/6 Resource Room will be buzzing with electronic portfolios of students’ hard work and skill building. Come in to see what the electricity is all about! INFORMATION PAGE About This Website Curriculum Expectations General Academic Special Ed. Services Calendar & Events RESOURCES Category/Descriptions Alphabetical Listing Downloads ACTION PAGE Parent Involvement Support Link Volunteers RESPONSE FORUM CONTACTS PAGE Resource Room Teachers 5th Grade Teachers 6th Grade Teachers Speech/Language TGS Guidance TGS Principal Special Ed. Director District Consultants  Information.htmlResources.htmlResourcesCategory.htmlResources_ABC.htmlDownloads.htmlResponseForum.htmlContacts.htmlshapeimage_8_link_0shapeimage_8_link_1shapeimage_8_link_2shapeimage_8_link_3shapeimage_8_link_4shapeimage_8_link_5shapeimage_8_link_6shapeimage_8_link_7