Looking Back and Moving Forward

Convention Update

At the CEC Convention in Philadelphia, DR sponsored a series of outstanding presentations, panels, and posters highlighting the breadth, depth, and quality of special education research. For example, featured sessions on bully prevention and intervention brought together a range of experts and organizations and facilitated productive cross-­‐disciplinary conversations. One of the most important things we do in DR is recognize and honor the contributions of researchers at every career stage. In Philadelphia we presented awards to student and early career researchers as well as the Kauffman-­‐Hallahan Distinguished Researcher award to Mary Brownell. One of my favorite parts of CEC is seeing established and prominent scholars welcome and engage student and early career researchers at the DR reception.

Enhanced Communications

DR is working to increase our presence on social media as well as update our website to make it more useful to our members. Thanks to Cara Richards-­‐Tutor and Bree Jimenez, DR is now on Facebook. Please join DR’s page at https://www.facebook.com/divisionforresearch and visit often for regular updates regarding division activities as well as other news related to special education research. We are also exploring different options for updating our website to provide more useful and enhanced content and easier access. We encourage members to share ideas about how the DR website can best serve the special education research community as a tool and resource.
 
Upcoming White Paper

DR’s Diversity and Families Committees are wrapping up work on a White Paper entitled “Increasing the Involvement of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students in Special Education Research.” I’d like to thank Tisa Aceves and Jennifer Diliberto for their vision and leadership in developing this important and timely contribution to the field. Keep an eye out for dissemination of the White Paper and stay tuned for a featured session at next year’s CEC.

Policy and Advocacy

There is no doubt that it was a challenging year for researchers seeking federal grant support for special education research, especially from IES. A priority for DR is to continue to advocate for increased funding and support of special education research in collaboration with CEC’s larger policy and advocacy team. Although the forecast for the near future is still not ideal, there are some encouraging signs moving forward related to prioritizing special education research and working towards regaining NCSER funding losses in the efforts to reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA), now called the Strengthening Education through Research Act (SETRA). DR’s Linda Lewis and CEC’s Kim Hymes have been tireless advocates throughout this process.

Moving Forward

Finally, this is my last newsletter as President of DR. It has been a great honor to have had this opportunity to serve the DR community. Moving forward, DR is in excellent hands. David Houchins will be the next President, with Betsy Talbott and Kristen McMaster as President Elect and Vice President. I’d like to thank the DR officers for all their support over this past year, including Past President Kathleen Lane for her generous guidance and mentorship. I know that I speak for all the DR officers in recognizing the consistent leadership of the DR Board and ongoing efforts of committee chairs and members – where the real work of DR is accomplished.