Education

Early intervention

Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start Operating within the Administration for Children and Families, the Office of Head Start provides a range of individualized services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, and mental health; nutrition; and parent involvement. The Office of Head Start website provides information related to funding opportunities, descriptions of the Office and program services, legislation and regulations, policy, research and the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC). The ECLKC supports the Head Start community and other organizations working in the interest of children and families by providing information products and services, conference and meeting support, publication distribution, and marketing and outreach efforts.

Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) The OSERS supports programs that help educate children and youth with disabilities, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities, and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. The OSERS website provides information on programs and initiatives, contact information, reports and resources, and news.

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) The DoDEA instructional program provides a comprehensive pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum that is dedicated to attaining highest student achievement for all students. DoDEA schools include Department of Defense Schools - Europe (DoDDS-E), Department of Defense Schools - Pacific (DoDDS-P) / Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools - Guam (DDESS-G), and the Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS). The DoDEA website provides general information, curriculum standards and programs, resources and tools for parents of children enrolled in DoDEA schools, and contact information for any school within the DoD school system either in the United States or overseas. Specific DoDEA programs and resources related to early identification include:

• Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Special Education The DoDEA Special Education website provides an overview of course descriptions, programs and services offered to students with special needs, and information on eligibility categories.
• Sure Start Sure Start is a DoDEA program for command-sponsored children stationed at overseas installations. Based on the Department of Health and Human Services' Head Start model, Sure Start assists qualified preschool-age military children by providing education, health, and social services based on income and need guidelines. The services provided by the Sure Start program are designed to involve the children, their families, schools, and communities to ensure a comprehensive, coordinated approach to early childhood education.
• Department of Defense Directory for DoD Dependents Schools (DoDDS) and Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) The Military Medical Departments through their EDIS provide Early Intervention Services and related services in outside the continental United States (OCONUS) locations where the DoDDS is responsible for educational services. The OCONUS Directory is intended to assist the medical and educational assignment coordinators to identify those military communities OCONUS with pre-established programs or services for children with special needs. Please Note: The DoDDS and EDIS OCONUS Directory does not identify pre-established programs or services for special medical needs.

EDUCATION DIRECTORY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS - The DoD's new Education Directory for Children with Special Needs provides useful, practical information for families of military dependents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and assignment personnel when considering assignment locations in California, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. The directory provides the following information:

• brief summaries of national and state policies related to ASD, including the latest evidence-based practices for children with ASD
• profiles and contact information for districts that serve military installations in the selected states
• a representative list of effective resources
• suggestions and resources to assist families during the educational transition of their child with ASD

MilitaryINSTALLATIONS is a resource available on MilitaryHOMEFRONT that provides contact information for programs and services, maps and directions, links to comprehensive location overviews, and community points of interest for military installations worldwide. Many installations now have a school liaison officer (SLO) to serve as a bridge and facilitator between schools and military families. The liaison officers work with schools to minimize the negative consequences of transitions and inform school personnel as well as the installation command about issues related to the education of military youth, including special education. Parents who are having difficulties working in partnership with school personnel should be referred to the installation SLO. Contact information for installation services can be found under the program/services titled "School Liaison Office/Community Schools." 

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) Supported by the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), NECTAC serves Part C, Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Programs, and Part B, Section 619 Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities, in all fifty states and ten jurisdictions to improve service systems and outcomes for children and families. The NECTAC website provides information organized on topic pages, listings of events, research, publications and contact lists and finders.

ZERO TO THREE ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports parents, professionals and policymakers in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. The ZERO TO THREE website offers general child development guidance, including information about brain development, early learning, school readiness, child care, health, and nutrition. In addition, ZERO TO THREE has a wealth of information specifically developed for military families about how to help young children build resiliency and cope with parental separation, relocation and other stressors.

Inclusion

Circle of Inclusion Funded by the Department of Education, Office of Special Education, Circle of Inclusion is an outreach training project designed to address the challenges and issues of inclusive program development for children with severe, multiple disabilities. The Circle of Inclusion website offers early childhood service providers and families of young children demonstrations of and information about the effective practices of inclusive educational programs for children from birth through age eight.

Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) The OSERS supports programs that help educate children and youth with disabilities, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. The OSERS website provides information on programs and initiatives, contact information, reports and resources, and news.

Learning disability

Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation Schwab Learning is a service of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation that funds programs in learning differences and human services. Schwab Learning's vision is to help kids with learning differences be successful in learning and life, transforming the lives of a significant number of children in the United States for the better. The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation website provides overviews of the various priority areas that the foundation supports and a listing of the specific organizations that the foundation supports.

Council for Learning Disabilities (CLD) The CLD is an international organization that promotes evidence-based teaching, collaboration, research, leadership, and advocacy. The council is composed of professionals who are committed to enhancing the education and quality of life for individuals with learning disabilities and others who experience challenges in learning. The CLD website provides publications, news, and legislation, a calendar of conferences, links to other websites, and information for becoming a member of the CLD.

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) LDA is the largest non-profit volunteer organization advocating for individuals with learning disabilities and has over 200 state and local affiliates in forty-two states and Puerto Rico. The state and local affiliates, through their affiliation with the national LDA, work continuously for individuals with learning disabilities, their parents, and the professionals who serve them. The LDA website provides information about the national organization, contact information for state chapters and individually targeted sections for parents, teachers, professionals, and other adults.

Learning Disabilities (LD) OnLine LD OnLine seeks to help children, adolescents, and adults by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). LD OnLine provides helpful articles, multimedia, monthly columns by noted experts, first person essays, children's writing and artwork, a comprehensive resource guide, active forums, and a yellow pages referral directory of professionals, schools, and products. The site also offers information and resources on the transitions from school to college and from school to the workplace, and on the issues faced by adults with learning disabilities.

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) The NCLD provides essential information to parents, professionals and individuals with learning disabilities, promotes research and programs to foster effective learning, and advocates for policies to protect and strengthen educational rights and opportunities. The NCLD website provides general information related to learning disabilities with specific sections targeting parents for the at home environment, the school environment, and for individuals in the collage and workplace environments. The website also hosts the LD Insights Blog and provides links to publications and other learning disabilities resources.

PEPNet PEPNet provides resources and expertise that enhance educational opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, including those with co-occurring disabilities. PEPNet's national outreach is coordinated through its four regional centers that work collaboratively to provide a broad variety of best practices and resources to enhance educational opportunities. PEPNet-Northeast, based at Rochester Institute of Technology, home of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, offers online training of student note takers. The training is comprehensive, interactive, and free, consisting of three modules of approximately ninety minutes in length. Although this program emphasizes taking notes for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, it can be used to take notes for students with many other disabilities.

Library

ipl2: Information You Can Trust ipl2 is a public service organization and a learning/teaching environment resulting from the merger of the Internet Public Library (IPL) and the Librarians' Internet Index (LII) websites. ipl2 is a searchable, annotated subject directory of more than 7,000 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users of public libraries. ipl2 is intended to be used by both librarians and non-librarians as a reliable and efficient guide to describe and evaluated Internet resources.

School nutrition

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) The FAAN works to build public awareness, provide advocacy and education, and advance research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis.

School Meals, Food, and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture The Child Nutrition Programs provide healthy, nutritious meals and snacks to the nation’s children. The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides cash assistance to states to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The Special Milk Program provides milk to children in schools and childcare institutions who do not participate in other Federal meal service programs.

Other education resources

Best Buddies Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

College Living Experience (CLE) CLE is a post-secondary program that provides intensive assistance with academic, independent living, and social skills to college students with learning disabilities (LD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other special needs as they transition to become independent adults. CLE locations include Austin, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, and Washington, DC. The CLE website provides descriptions of the program, current news, and information related to admission into the program.

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) The DoDEA instructional program provides a comprehensive pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum that is dedicated to attaining highest student achievement for all students. DoDEA schools include Department of Defense Schools - Europe (DoDDS-E), Department of Defense Schools - Pacific (DoDDS-P) / Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools - Guam (DDESS-G), and the Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS). The DoDEA website provides general information, curriculum standards and programs, resources and tools for parents of children enrolled in DoDEA schools, and contact information for any school within the DoD school system either in the United States, or overseas.

Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) The OSERS supports programs that help educate children and youth with disabilities, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. The OSERS website provides information on programs and initiatives, contact information, reports and resources, and news.

Department of State, Office of Overseas Schools The Office of Overseas Schools promotes quality educational opportunities at the elementary and secondary level for dependents of American citizens carrying out the programs and interests of the United States government abroad. The Office of Overseas Schools website provides information on overseas schools advisory councils, educational assistance programs, regional education associations, and resources for special needs.

Going to College Developed under a grant from the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Going to College is a resource that provides teenagers with disabilities tips on how to plan for college, what to expect in college, what professors will expect from them, and how to earn good grades, obtain accommodations, and use technology.

HEATH Resource Center The HEATH Resource Center of The George Washington University is an online clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities. The HEATH Resource Center gathers and disseminates information to help people with disabilities reach their full potential through postsecondary education and training. The HEATH Resource Center website provides a calendar of events, training modules, and links to publications and resources.

Institute of Education Statistics (IES) IES provides rigorous and relevant evidence on which to ground education practice and policy and share this information broadly. The IES website provides links to publications and products, data files and tools, funding opportunities, and a calendar of events. Also included on the website is a school locator tool that allows users to search for neighborhood public schools.

National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Inc. (NASDSE) NASDSE strives to improve educational services and outcomes for students with disabilities throughout the United States, federal territories and the Freely Associated States of Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. The NASDSE website provides information on current projects, publications, events, and links to additional resources.  Also included on the website is contact information and websites for each state’s director of special education.

National Center of 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 in order to create opportunities for youth to achieve successful futures. The NCSET website provides information and news, links to publications, a calendar of events, links to related websites, and state-level contact information.

The Regional Resource Centers (RRC) Program The RRC Program is a national network of technical assistance programs which helps to educate children and youth with disabilities. The six regional program centers are funded by the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to assist state education agencies in the systemic improvement of education programs, practices, and policies that affect children and youth with disabilities. Services offered by the RRC Program include consultation, information services, specially designed technical assistance, training, and product development.

Virginia College Quest Virginia College Quest provides information for parents, teachers and counselors to help students with disabilities succeed at the collegiate level.