GRANTHAM, PA (01/14/2014)(readMedia)-- Bettendorf resident Allison Campbell was named to the dean's list for the 2013 fall semester at Messiah College. Campbell is a junior majoring in psychology. Dean's list is earned by receiving a 3.6 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Messiah College, a private Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, enrolls over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Established in 1909, the primary campus is located in Grantham, Pa., near the state capital of Harrisburg.

January 14, 2014–Pittsburgh, PA– Assistive technology, cultural diversity and universal design will be featured topics at the 51st annual international conference of the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, February 19-22, 2014.

Educators, administrators, support professionals, parents, and adults with learning disabilities will gather to take a comprehensive look at issues and best practices in professional preparation and evaluation; advances in reading and math research; assessment for learning disabilities; and transition from school to work.

Throughout the four days, 200 breakout sessions and topical workshops will be provided by leading experts in special and general education, mental health, education research, best classroom techniques, adult issues, assistive technology, assessment, public policy, advocacy, substance abuse, and juvenile justice.

Keynote sessions are "Cultural Diversity and Students with LD: Addressing Difference and Disability in Cultural and Linguistic Contexts" by Catherine Collier, Ph.D., Director/CEO - Cross-Cultural Developmental Education Services, Ferndale, WA on Wednesday, Feb. 19; "What's LD and How Can I Get One? Reframing Technology for Persons with Learning Disabilities" by Marshall Raskind, Ph.D., Educational Research and Consulting, Bainbridge Island, WA, on Thursday, Feb. 20; and "Universal Design: How do Students with Learning Disabilities Benefit?" by Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D., Director, UW Accessible Technology, University of Washington, on Friday, Feb. 21.

An Assistive Technology (AT) Solutions Lab will be conducted for conference attendees by AMAC Accessibility Solutions, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, in the Exhibit Hall Wednesday through Friday, Feb.

19-21. Sessions will include AT Writing Solutions and Reading Solutions, Accessibility Tips and Tricks, Understanding Apps and Tablets Accessibility, sharing information about apps for a variety of uses, and demonstrations by AT vendors.

A special session on Wednesday night, Feb. 19, "Toxic Chemicals, Nutrition and Child Development" will be presented by Irva Hertz-Picciotto, M.P.H., Ph.D., Environmental Epidemiologist, Professor, UC Davis MIND Institute and Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA. CNN Hero John Zickefoose (Mr. Z) will speak at the Adult Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 20.

LDA is a non-profit organization of parents, professionals and adults with learning disabilities providing support, information, and advocacy on behalf of individuals with learning disabilities.
For further information go to www.ldaamerica.org/conference/index.asp

WATERLOO - Jan. 13, 2014.  Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will urge state leaders to overhaul the way schools are funded in Illinois during the final hearing of the Education Funding Advisory Committee (EFAC) this afternoon in Waterloo. Simon said the current formula hurts rural and high-poverty districts and should be changed before the 2014-15 school year.

"In our current system, the perennial losers are low-income and rural communities: those with the least local resources and the least political clout," Simon said. "Yet our state needs all students to succeed if we are to grow our economy and improve our quality of life. It will take guts to fund these schools equitably, but it is a moral and economic imperative."

Simon recommended several changes, including a cap on the state payments made to offset property taxes and the merging of transportation funds into the primary funding formula. She also asked the committee to tackle "proration," or the way the state handles payments when funding falls short. Districts that rely most heavily on state dollars should be cut at a lower rate than those who rely least on state funds, she said.

"The proration inequity has contributed to financial instability in districts across the state, and is most visible in North Chicago and East St. Louis. We will see more districts in jeopardy if we continue on our current path," she said.

Started by State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), the purpose of the Advisory Committee is to examine the state's current education funding system and propose a system that provides adequate, equitable, transparent, and accountable distribution of funds to school districts that will prepare students for achievement and success after high school. The Advisory Committee is comprised of eight members appointed by the Senate president and the Senate minority leader.

The Illinois State Board of Education notes that the Advisory Committee is required to consider the following when making its recommendations: the number of students in a school and school district and the level of need of those students; a school district's ability to provide local resources; transparency and accountability; revenue predictability; and the long-term implications and outcomes of the funding system. The Advisory Committee must seek input from stakeholders and members of the public on issues and possible improvements to the existing funding system.

Simon serves as the state's point person on education reform. In this capacity, Simon is working to increase the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2025. As chair of the 25-member Governor's Rural Affairs Council, Simon is also working to improve the delivery of state services and education opportunities to rural Illinois.

A copy of Simon's testimony is available upon request.

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said today that Kennedy Salow of Walker has received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., for the 2014-2015 school year.

Salow is the daughter of Kim and Joel Salow.  She will graduate in May from Center Point-Urbana High School.  Salow participated in student council, basketball, volleyball, track, large group speech, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Art Club, and Just Eliminate Lies.

"Admission to the service academies is highly competitive and a great honor," Grassley said.  "Students work very hard to earn this kind of opportunity.  I wish Kennedy Salow well and thank her for her commitment to serve our nation."

Salow was among the 55 Iowans Grassley nominated this year for appointments to the U.S. service academies.  Information about seeking nominations can be found on Grassley's website.

For more than 200 years, these academies have educated and trained individuals to lead and command the U.S. armed forces.