Someone stole my thunder...

Or, maybe I'm trying to steal there's?

What am I talking about, you ask?

I'm talking about my continuum of services policy analysis project that has consumed my mind and body for the last 6 months.  I found a book, published in 1999 by James Kauffman (a name-stay in the field of special education) and Jean Crockett (a past special education center/segregated school administrator): The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): Its origins and Interpretations in Special Education, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.

I am only kidding about the thunder stealing.  In reality it has been my best find yet.  I got it for $0.02 on Amazon (no that is not a typo and makes me go back to my earlier question of topic relevance) but am quite happy to have found it.

The text is a complete report of a large historical analysis of the LRE (least restrictive environment) requirement in the federal legislation guiding special education service delivery.  The authors did much of what I intend and am currently working to do: content analysis of the law and hearings, interviews with key stakeholders in the policy development and implementation process, and even captures the dilemma of service delivery and place decisions in special education. WOW- this surely will serve to be quite helpful.

Stolen or not, I'm thankful for the found thunder!

(On an aside, of which I will write more later, the 3 of us come from QUITE different perspectives.  I am finding myself getting angrier and angrier as I complete the book... be a good little researcher and keep your biases at bay Ms. Unplugged.)

A noteworthy case in Florida crossed my desk this week in coursework and I thought it worth sharing.  It seems citizens in Florida are gathering and have raised suit against the state for not providing a high quality education.

In Citizens for strong schools, inc. v. Florida State Board of education local citizens have accused the state of allegedly not providing enough funds AND "misusing standardized test results in isolation to make high stakes decisions about students and schools".

The complaint was filed on November, 19, 2009 and has not been resolved.  Stay tuned for updates.  I will be following this one closely!

One Dramatic Week....

Life as a mother, wife and doctoral student is anything but mundane... This week: 1 hard drive crash, 1 rejected proposal, 2 new research discoveries and a cross country move confirmed.

-The hard drive crash took all my data, all my papers and all my family photos.  On the bright side, in many ways I get a fresh start at life.  My lesson to you all is this: when they say back it up, LISTEN!

-The rejected proposal was for my continuum project.  I've submitted elsewhere, so it's not too disappointing, but does make me wonder about how relavant my project is.  Is it something that is important to me only.  Am I chasing fireflies?  The continuum and the educational segregation of individuals with disabilities has been a driving force of momentum throughout my career. It is what has led me to pursue and stick with doctoral work, even when the times get almost too difficult to bear.  But, I now am led to wonder, "is it pertinent in today's high stakes accountability context?".  And if not, what is my response?  Do I abandon the work because others don't see it as important and critical as I, or do I continue the work and hope in time new knowledge will push the edges of what is accepted and what is rejected.

-On that same topic, considering the fact that I am this far into it, I've found two new research tool discoveries that should help propel me forward.  At least I'm hoping.

 (1)  Legal Research: How to find and understand the law (Elias, 2009).  I'm hoping this text will provide useful as I continue to develop efficient and systematic legal research skills.

(2) Studying Education and Social Policy (Heck, 2004). This is a research method text that outlines policy research from conception to execution.

-And last but not least, the cross country move... it is as it sounds, my husband has been offered and accepted a job across the country.  He goes next week, we (the girls and I) go next year.  I'm too close now to stop my studies.  With one year left of coursework the plan is for me to finish up with courses and then re-unite the family next summer.  This means that I'll be doing my dissertation from afar.  Time to prep a new research site- and I had such a great one hear.  C'est la vie.  It will be good practice for my post-doctoral life.

So there you have it.  The balance I spoke of a few months back challenged but maintained in just one week.  Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to only focus on one dimension of life (i.e. just motherhood, just doctoral work, just ....), but that's just not me.

Happy Fourth of July!