New Tool Makes it Easy for Parents to Advocate for their Child's Education in their School and State

AUSTIN, Texas, March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today at SXSWedu, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is launching the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Toolkit on NCLD.org and on Understood.org , a free online resource and community that supports millions of parents of kids with learning and attention issues. This new tool makes it easy to understand the complexities of ESSA so parents can work together with educators and policymakers and better support children's academic success.

The ESSA serves as the latest roadmap for states to educate public school students. For the first time ever, the ESSA requires states and school districts to seek and include parent input into their education plans. Yet, right now, just as states are working on implementing ESSA, many parents are unaware of ESSA and the rights afforded to all K-12 students, including the 1 in 5 children in the U.S. with learning and attention issues, such as ADHD and dyslexia.

"Now as states turn to implement law, the promise of ESSA – to give every child an opportunity to receive a high quality education – may only be achieved if we recognize when schools and students are struggling and give them the resources needed to improve. NCLD's ESSA Toolkit brings parents into this conversation with the knowledge they need to collaborate with others and help schools succeed," says Mimi Corcoran, NCLD President and CEO.

The ESSA Toolkit features key information for parents on how ESSA works including:

• Why accountability is so important for children with disabilities
• The importance of state and local report cards and ratings
• Interventions that support struggling schools
• Ways to ensure students with disabilities receive Accommodations on all high school tests (including SAT/ACT)

The NCLD ESSA Toolkit helps parents get the information they need to understand ESSA, organize with other parents, and work with educators and policymakers to ensure that the needs of the 1 in 5 are represented and addressed in important state and school district ESSA planning.

For more information on academic support for students with learning and attention issues, such as ADHD and dyslexia, and to download the kit for free, visit: http://u.org/toolkit

About National Center for Learning Disabilities
The mission of NCLD is to improve the lives of the 1 in 5 children and adults nationwide with learning and attention issues—by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools and advocating for equal rights and opportunities. We're working to create a society in which every individual possesses the academic, social and emotional skills needed to succeed in school, at work and in life.

About Understood.org
Created by 15 nonprofit partners, Understood.org is a free online resource and community supporting parents of the 1 in 5 kids with learning and attention issues. Understood.org empowers millions of parents through personalized resources, daily access to experts, interactive tools and a supportive online and on-the-ground community. Winner of the 2015 Webby Award for Best Family/Parenting Site and the 2016 Cynopsis Award for Best Branded Digital Platform, Understood.org is operated by The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD).  

SOURCE National Center for Learning Disabilities