October 2002
National Inclusive Schools Week is
December 2-6, 2002
2nd Annual Event Builds on Last Year's Success
The 2nd Annual National Inclusive
Schools Week will be celebrated December 2 —6, 2002 in classrooms,
schools, and communities throughout the country to highlight the
nation’s progress in providing a quality education to an
increasingly diverse student population.
Inclusive Schools Week, which involved tens of thousands of participants
in more than 2,000 schools and school districts in nearly all
50 states in 2001, is sponsored by the Urban Special Education
Leadership Collaborative, a leadership development and networking
organization for urban special education leaders and the National
Institute for Urban School Improvement. Among last year’s
activities:
- Schools held events such as the “Share Fair” in
Miami-Dade County (FL) and the “Diversity Carnival”
in Hartranft Elementary School (Philadelphia) to spotlight diversity
and inclusive practices.
- Pre-schools and kindergarten classes involved children in
events such as the New Sarpy Kindergarten Center (Louisiana)
where children created art projects such as “I am Special”
buttons they wore throughout the week.
- School districts such as the Denver Public Schools issued
official proclamations designating “Inclusive Schools
Week."
- Fifteen colleges and universities including Boston University
and Temple University planned special events with their education
students.
“The overwhelming participation and success of the first
annual Inclusive Schools Week has led us to sponsor another week
of events,” said Collaborative Director David Riley. “Once
again we will be offering educators, students, and families an
opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come in special education
and to discuss what else needs to be done to ensure that all schools
successfully educate all children,” Riley said.
To help schools plan events for the week, the Collaborative is
offering an updated Celebration Kit containing publications that
outline the benefits of inclusive schools, suggested readings
for children and adults, celebration ideas and lesson plans, and
materials to use in promoting the week. The 2002 kit will also
include ideas for older students, including essay contest themes
and ways to involve civics and journalism classes, and student
government clubs and organizations.
To learn more about the 2nd Annual National Inclusive Schools
Week, contact Bonnie Johnson
Barry at bjohnsonbarry@edc.org or visit our Web site at http://www.inclusiveschools.org/.
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©2002 Education Development
Center, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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