Links to State Department of Education Special Education Web Sites MS Word - Compilation of links to special education Web sites (Education Commission of the States, July 2003)...

Project Forum - Project Forum aims to facilitate improved services to children and youth with disabilities by gathering and sharing information that supports changes to policy and practice at the national, state and local levels. Each year, Project Forum: (1) identifies 15 "hot" topics within the field of special education; (2) conducts policy analyses on these topics; (3) convenes policy forums on some of these topics; (4) maintains, in collaboration with the Regional Resource Centers, a national database of state laws, policies and regulations that govern special education; and (5) distributes information that will contribute to better results for children with disabilities. ...

Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) - CADRE – The National Center on Dispute Resolution – encourages the use of mediation and other collaborative strategies to resolve disagreements about special education and early intervention programs. This extensive Web site provides links to many mediation resources, including research and training, as well as state-by-state information on early intervention mediation systems....

Technical Assistance Alliance - An innovative partnership of one national and six regional parent technical assistance centers with the purpose of developing, assisting and coordinating over 100 parent training and information centers and community parent resource centers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act....

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities - With a special focus on children and youth, this Web site provides information on disability-related issues to families, educators and administrators. Visitors can use the search function to find publications, resources and other organizations or can call 1-800-695-0285 for more information....

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) - NCSET coordinates national resources, offers technical assistance, and disseminates information related to secondary education and transition for youth with disabilities to create opportunities for youth to achieve successful futures. This Web site disseminates information focused on four major areas of national significance for youth with disabilities and their families: (1) providing students with disabilities with improved access and success in the secondary education curriculum; (2) ensuring students achieve positive postschool results in accessing postsecondary education, meaningful employment, independent living and participation in all aspects of community life; (3) supporting student and family participation in educational and postschool decisionmaking and planning; and (4) improving collaboration and system linkages at all levels through the development of broad-based partnerships and networks at the national, state and local levels....

Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE) - HECSE represents colleges and universities which offer doctoral programs for the fields of special education and early intervention. Its mission is to seek solutions to challenges unique to college and university programs involved in the preparation of special education leadership personnel. These solutions include the exchange of information and ideas unique to comprehensive special education personnel preparation programs; professional development and dissemination activities; and professional advocacy for academic programs offered by its members. This site offers reports and news, information on policy and legislation, conference summaries, member lists and links to related sites....

National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) - This not-for-profit corporation, established in 1938, provides services to state agencies to facilitate their efforts to maximize educational outcomes for individuals with disabilities in the United States and outlying areas. This site provides information on NASDSE projects, access to publications and topical discussion groups, and links to state departments of education and related organizations....

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center - This national technical assistance center works to support states, jurisdictions and others to improve services and results for young children with disabilities and their families. The site provides information on early childhood policies, research, practices and legislation....

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) - Since 1876, AAIDD (formerly the American Association of Mental Retardation) has been providing leadership in the field of mental retardation. AAIDD is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals (and others) concerned about mental retardation and related disabilities. This site contains information on issues that effect the mentally retarded and those close to them. For full access to this site you must be a member of AAIDD....

Council for Exceptional Children - The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically undeserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice....

Family & Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE) - This site contains information that aims to inform and educate families and advocates about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997. Sections include a newsline, updates on laws and regulations, current promising practices, tips for teaching cultural diversity and a technical assistance area....

ILIAD - IDEA Local Implementation by Local Administrators Partnership - ILIAD involves more than 16 educational and related-services associations. This site provides information designed to help local special education administrators with implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The site also contains links to its 16-member agencies, as well as links to other special education Web sites....

National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) - NASMHPD organizes to reflect and advocate for the collective interests of State Mental Health Authorities and their directors at the national level. NASMHPD analyzes trends in the delivery and financing of mental health services and builds and disseminates knowledge and experience reflecting the integration of public mental health programming in evolving healthcare environments....

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) - NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators and other professionals. Services include personal responses to questions, publications, referrals, database and library searches, and materials in Spanish....

Office of Special Education Programs - The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is a component of the U.S Department of Education. OSEP's mission and organization focus on the free appropriate public education of children and youth with disabilities from birth through age 21. This site contains publications and reports on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which includes a guide to Individual Education Programs. In addition, there are updates on federal projects and grants that deal with IDEA....

The Federal Resource Center (FRC) for Special Education - The FRC supports a nationwide technical assistance network to respond to the needs of students with disabilities, especially students from underrepresented populations. Through its work with the RRCs (Regional Resource Centers) and the technical assistance networks, the FRC provides a national perspective for establishing technical assistance activities within and across regions by identifying and synthesizing emerging issues and trends....

The National Center on Educational Outcomes - This center provides national leadership in the participation of students with disabilities in national and state assessments, standards-setting efforts and graduation requirements. This site contains information on special education topics, such as: accommodations, accountability, alternative assessments, graduation requirements, out-of-level testing and reporting issues....