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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Dr. V. (and all),<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>There is a movement to get the ECC into the next reauthorization of IDEA and the language for this bill can be found at American Foundation for the Blind (afb.org) by accessing their Public Policy Center of their website and looking for the Anne Sullivan Macy Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Also on AFB’s website is a policy guidance letter from 2000 from the U.S Department of Education which describes the critical elements which should be present in a program for students with visual impairments including the ECC. This letter does not have the “teeth” of law, but is an interpretation of what IDEA means for blind students.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Additionally, the California Department of Education is in the process of revising the Program Guidelines (last published in 1997) and the ECC will figure prominently in that document. But again, the guidelines do not have the enforcement piece which legislation does.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The fact that neither of these last two have the “legally mandated” status you ask about demonstrates the need for the Macy Act or something like it being included in federal law.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hope this is helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Stuart<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Stuart Wittenstein, EdD<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>California School for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>500 Walnut Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Fremont, CA 94536<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>510-794-3800, ext 201<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Fax: 510-794-3813<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>There is no such thing as a weird human being. It’s just that some people require more understanding than others do. Tom Robbins<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:bounce-1213874-19413@mlist.cde.ca.gov">bounce-1213874-19413@mlist.cde.ca.gov</a> [<a href="mailto:bounce-1213874-19413@mlist.cde.ca.gov">mailto:bounce-1213874-19413@mlist.cde.ca.gov</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>DrV<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, November 02, 2013 6:45 AM<br><b>To:</b> Stuart Wittenstein<br><b>Subject:</b> [braille-n-teach] Is there a Legal Mandate for the Expanded Core Curriculum?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>Hi All,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>It’s been a while since this has been last discussed.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>I’ve heard many presentations on The Expanded Core Curriculum for Blind and Visually Impaired Children and Youths, but when this is brought up in IEP meetings, then there are usual a lot of blank looks on the faces of the General Ed/non-VI team members.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>I think the general concuss is that the goals outlined in the ECC is should be addressed & ideally eventually mastered by the student by the time they graduate.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>Time is of course a factor & who is responsible for what can (& is) be debated.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>I have heard the “The National Agenda” & the ECC described as a grass roots movement.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>In California specifically, or nationally, does is the delivery of the ECC now legally mandated, or is it “icing on the cake” – something that districts can address if the want to, but don't necessarily have to. If there indeed is a legal requirement for the ECC for Blind & VI Children & Youth, then could you share as specifically as possible - what is the legal basis that justifies the responsibly of the school district or IEP Team to deliver all the components put forth in the ECC?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>Simply put, teaching the ECC now a legal requirement or just a “feel good phrase”?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>I look forward to your replies.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'>Eric V</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?FolderID=3&SectionID=44&TopicID=189&SubTopicID=4"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?FolderID=3&SectionID=44&TopicID=189&SubTopicID=4</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?FolderID=3&SectionID=44&TopicID=189&SubTopicID=4&DocumentID=2117"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?FolderID=3&SectionID=44&TopicID=189&SubTopicID=4&DocumentID=2117</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="http://www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/winter01/core.htm"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>http://www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/winter01/core.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p> <o:p></o:p></p><p>---<o:p></o:p></p><p>You are currently subscribed to braille-n-teach as: <a href="mailto:swittenstein@csb-cde.ca.gov">swittenstein@csb-cde.ca.gov</a> .<o:p></o:p></p><p>To unsubscribe click here: <a href="http://165.74.253.23/u?id=19413.4b5ed938de41e4ff532c02c27dfd143a&n=T&l=braille-n-teach&o=1213874">http://165.74.253.23/u?id=19413.4b5ed938de41e4ff532c02c27dfd143a&n=T&l=braille-n-teach&o=1213874</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>(It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken)<o:p></o:p></p><p>or send a blank email to <a href="mailto:leave-1213874-19413.4b5ed938de41e4ff532c02c27dfd143a@mlist.cde.ca.gov">leave-1213874-19413.4b5ed938de41e4ff532c02c27dfd143a@mlist.cde.ca.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p><p> <o:p></o:p></p><p>---<o:p></o:p></p><p>You are currently subscribed to braille-n-teach as: <a href="mailto:mwillows@csb-cde.ca.gov">mwillows@csb-cde.ca.gov</a> .<o:p></o:p></p><p>To unsubscribe click here: <a href="http://165.74.253.23/u?id=3423984.afc0d950432bd92fb53a74990aafdc86&n=T&l=braille-n-teach&o=1214489">http://165.74.253.23/u?id=3423984.afc0d950432bd92fb53a74990aafdc86&n=T&l=braille-n-teach&o=1214489</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>(It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken)<o:p></o:p></p><p>or send a blank email to <a href="mailto:leave-1214489-3423984.afc0d950432bd92fb53a74990aafdc86@mlist.cde.ca.gov">leave-1214489-3423984.afc0d950432bd92fb53a74990aafdc86@mlist.cde.ca.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>