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CHIP Updates, school and trauma, Texas special education reforms, and more in This Week’s AcceliBEAT

January 26, 2018

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This week we are happy to share the good news that Congress extended CHIP funding for 6 more years. However, in more tragic news, the Kentucky school shooting on Tuesday highlights an alarming trend. Researchers and gun control advocates say that school shootings have occurred at a rate of one per week since 2013. This kind of adverse experience not only raises gun control issues, but also has severe effects on children. A recent study on childhood trauma underlines how two-thirds of Americans have experienced an adverse childhood event, which can have detrimental effects on child development and future health. In other news, the Texas Education Agency has released its preliminary plan for reforming special education and President Trump signed the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act. All this and more in this week’s AcceliBEAT.


chip children with statistics with borderChildren’s Health Insurance Gets Six-Year Extension
The nearly three-week continuing resolution passed by Congress Monday to end a brief government shutdown includes a six-year funding package for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.



school shootingSchool Shooting in Kentucky Is Nation’s 11th of Year. It’s Jan. 23.
Gunfire ringing out in American schools used to be rare, and shocking. Now it seems to happen all the time.



texas flag and buildingTexas Announces $84.5M Plan to Improve Special Education
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is proposing to hire state-level teams to oversee and support districts’ efforts to provide educational services for students with special needs.



person climbing a DNA strandWhat Do Asthma, Heart Disease and Cancer Have in Common? Maybe Childhood Trauma
When kids are exposed to very high levels of chronic stress or adversity — or really intense and scary experiences — it actually changes the way their brains and bodies are wired.


group of teens with ASD at improv classFor Those with ASD, Improv Classes Can Aid Communication
Trying improv comedy for the first time could be daunting for anyone, but for these teens — who all have autism spectrum disorder — the progress was even more meaningful.



preschoolers with disabiltiies playing

Preschoolers with Disabilities Inordinately Suspended, Report Finds
Students with disabilities represent just 13 percent of the nation’s preschoolers, but a new report finds they account for three-quarters of all suspensions and expulsions.



child with parent family caregiver

Trump Signs Family Caregivers Act
A new law will require the federal government to develop a national strategy to address the needs of family caregivers, including those supporting people with developmental disabilities.



group of fifth graders at a book club with teacher

These Kids Started a Book Club for Minority Boys. It’s the Most Popular Club in School.
Truesdell Education Campus has a problem. The school can’t keep its shelves stocked with the most popular books.



teen with Prader-Willi syndrome drumming with father who plays guitar

Teen’s Talent on Drums Helps Him Control Prader-Willi
The 18-year-old is hard-core. He feels most comfortable when pounding on his electric drum set to the heavy-metal tunes of Pantera, Metallica and other bands.




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