In March 2001 at the age of 101, Margaret Rawson signed the articles of incorporation for the Margaret Byrd Rawson Institute, Inc., dedicated to training educators and other professionals and parents in language acquisition so that all children will have the critical skills and positive sense of self they need to realize their full potential. In July 2002 the Internal Revenue Service approved the 501C3 non-profit status making her lifelong vision a reality. For further information or donations please contact 301-696-9365. 
 

May 19, 2004....Fran Bowman of Bowman Educational Services spoke at the Friendship School, Eldersburg, MD.  Title of Presentation: Embracing the Green-Eyed Monster: Learning to love your child's learning differences.
 

May 8, 2004Annual MBIDA Spring Conference held at Hood College, Frederick, Md. Featuring speakers: Guinevere Eden, Lynn Flowers, Lori Cutting, Venita Chhabra, and Tom West,
 

April 21, 2004....Dr. M. Hanna, psychologist with specialization in area of anxiety disorders spoke at the Friendship School, Eldersburg, MD.
 

March 23, 2004....Jonathan Mooney spoke at the Centennial High School, Ellicott City, MD. Presentation covered ADHD, LD, Dyslexia, Gifted Underachievers, The Impact of Labels on Self-Esteem.  Sponsored jointly by the Howard County Gifted Different Learners Parent Group and the MBIDA.
 

March 17, 2004.....Dr. Stewart Mostovsky of Kennedy Krieger Institute spoke at the Friendship School, Eldersburg, MD.  Presentation covered the latest brain research and new discoveries in the area of ADHD.
 

September 2003 ....Carroll County PAGER members manned a booth at the seventh annual "Carroll County State of Special Education" night sponsored by the Carroll County Special Education Citizens Advisory Council (SECAC) at Westminster West Middle School.
 

August 10, 2003 ....The Carroll County Times, Westminster, MD, published an article, "Dealing with dyslexia," and other related articles. On August 12, the editor, Jim Lee, wrote an editorial, "Helping dyslexic students", in support of the PAGER group's efforts. 
 

June 19 - 20, 2003....Member attended the Wilson Two-Day Overview Workshop co-sponsored by the MBIDA in Bowie, MD. The Wilson two-day training is a prerequisite for further training.  For Wilson certification and college credit information see their website www.wilsonlanguage.com.
 

June 4, 2003 ....Members met with Susan Krebs, MD State Delegate, to discuss education issues.
 

April 9, 2003 ....Teresa and Eileen reviewed the 5-Year Comprehension Master Plan for Carroll County.  Our input addressed:  Remedial Reading Programs (K-12) for Regular Ed and Special Education (Multi-Sensory Reading System), Certified Teacher Training, Identification (K-12), Testing, Accountability, and Parent and Community participation.  
 

March 29, 2003 ....Members attended the MBIDA Spring Conference.  Featured Speaker, Gordon Sherman, Ph.D. Neuroscientist, spoke on "Research to Practice So That No Child is Left Behind".
 

November 21, 2002 ....Jean and Eileen attended the Special Education Leadership Forum, a project of the MD Developmental Disabilities Council in Annapolis, MD.  Issues relating to Inclusion, Staffing, Least Restrictive Environment were discussed.
 

November 20, 2002 ....Members met with Lee Murphy, Maryland Dept of Special Education, Regional Administrator for Carroll County, to discuss Special Education issues.
 

November 18, 2002 ....Members met with Frederick County Delegates to discuss Legislative issues.
 

October 19, 2002 ....Members attended the MBIDA Educational Advocacy Workshop. The speakers, Irene Spencer and Pat Lutz, founders of the Educational Advocacy Resource Services, present seminars at local, state and national conferences and have provided advocacy services in both private practice and as a volunteer advocate for many years.
 

October 7, 2002 ....Members attended the Annual MBIDA Fall Meeting. The guest speaker, Dr. Laurie Cutting, addressed "Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) and Reading Disabilities."  Dr. Cutting is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University. She is a researcher and clinician at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education, Johns Hopkins University.

September 26, 2002 ....Carroll County PAGER members manned a booth at the sixth annual "State of Special Education in Carroll County" sponsored by the Carroll County Special  Education Citizens Advisory Council (SECAC) at Westminster High School.   
 

September 16, 2002 ....Members attended Dr. Reid Lyon's presentation before the Carroll County Public Schools administrators and staff. Dr. Lyon was invited by the school system to speak on the current scientific reading research and the No Child Left Behind Act.
 

September 2002 ....Frederick Montesori Charter School opened.  For information contact Leslie Mansfield 301-473-8051.
 

August 14, 2002 ....Carroll County Public Schools approved a new reading policy based on the scientific evidence as documented in "Put Reading First".  All reading programs will provide systematic, explicit, and intensive instruction in the five areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary instruction and reading comprehension strategies.
 

Summer 2002 ....Diane Badgley, U.S. Dept. of Ed., OSERS, has been referred to us by Dr. Reid Lyon, NIH.  She is looking to create solutions and successful models for bringing about local reading reform initiatives.
 
 

Summer 2002 ....Met with Judy Lantz and the Montgomery Co. Learning Disabilities Association. They are interested in a partnership between the groups on the reading issue.
 

Summer 2002 ....Met with "Buzzy" Hettleman who recently published through the Abell Foundation (www.abell.org), "Still Getting It Wrong: The Continuing Failure of Special Education in the Baltimore City Public Schools." 
 

June 20, 2002 ....Cable 10 TV interviewed Teresa Ankney and the Frederick County Human Relations Commission regarding the reading crisis and how it is a human relations concern.
 

June 2002 ....Met with Kelli Nelson, MD Developmental Disability Counsel, regarding the formulation of a Special Education Citizen Advisory Committee (SECAC) in Frederick County.  FCPS's has been resistant to opening up a partnership between parents, community leaders, educators and administration to enhance services to students with special education needs and to advocate for positive changes.
 

June 2002 ....The Carroll County Board of Education approved the membership of PAGER to their Special Education Citizen Advisory Council. Beth Lee and Jean Kraynick represent PAGER.  The Carroll County SECAC invites all interested citizens to attend and participate in their organization.
 

June 2002 ....Teresa Ankney and Fran Bowman, MBIDA representatives, were appointed to the Maryland Reading First Leadership Team by Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools, and Governor Glendening, charged with setting policy for the MD Reading First State Initiative focusing on improving K-3 reading instruction and assisting with oversight and evaluation of the MD Reading First Initiative.  If approved by the US Department of Education through the Federal Reading First Initiative, MD could receive approximately 66 million dollars over the next six years and will be made available to eligible local school systems.
 

May 22, 2002 ....Teresa Ankney, testified before the Carroll Co. Board of Education and Administration on behalf of "Standardized Reading in MD" based on the scientific evidence as documented by NIH/NICHD. The Board members unanimously voted to write a Carroll County Reading Policy based on the proven scientific research documented in the National Reading Panel Report (2002) by NIH/NICHD.
 

May 14, 2002 ....Members reviewed textbooks in Carroll County and advised the need for textbooks to be in compliance with the scientific research.  Suggested they consider the FOCUS Reading & Language Program for grades K-3. 
 

May 7, 2002 ....Members attended Frederick County Commissioners Public Hearing on the Frederick County Public School 2002-03 Operating Budget at Frederick.
 

April 29, 2002 ....Members attended the "Carroll County Town Meeting about Education," sponsored by the Carroll County Council of PTA's. The County Commissioners and MD  Delegates discussed the funding of education.
 

April 26, 2002 ....PAGER members manned a booth at the Frederick Children's Festival in Baker Park, Frederick, MD.
 

April 24, 2002 ....Members attended a presentation by Dr. Reid Lyon, Reading/Brain Researcher (NIH/NICHD) at Hood College.  Dr. Lyon spoke on "Put Reading First" federal initiative and the "2000 National Reading Panel Report." The program was co-sponsored by the Margaret Byrd Rawson Institute and Hood College. We were delighted to see many administrators, teachers and board members from Carroll County in attendance. 
 

April 15, 2002 ....Members attended a presentation given by Bob Moses, a former civil rights organizer, on Math literacy at Hood College.

 

April 3, 2002 ....Teresa Ankney was honored at the second annual Maryland.com Women of Achievement Awards in Annapolis. Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend bestowed the honors. Teresa was interviewed on Radio Station WFMD AM930 on April 14, 2002. Congratulation Teresa and thank you for making a difference in so many families lives and for the countless children that can now read because of you. For details access www.Maryland.com.
 

April 2002 ....Members attended the Frederick County Public Schools Education Meeting with Private Schools and parents of children who are Home Schooled. (FCPS wanted to pull Special Education services for Home Schooled students and are now willing to reconsider.)
 

April 2002 ....Members did a presentation before the PTA at Watkins Mill School in Montgomery County.
 

Spring 2002 ....Penny Kiser, Arlington, VA, has been appointed by the Arlington County Language Department to head the English Advisory Committee. She has met with Patrick Piccards, Representative of the National Reading Panel, and has presented before the Arlington Board of Education on "Reading Reform Based on the Scientific Research."
 

Spring 2002 ....The first Charter School in MD was approved.  Monocacy Valley Montessori Charter School is attempting to create an Orton-Gillingham option for dyslexic children. Fran Bowman, educational specialist, presented on the essential elements required in teaching reading. Information on the FOCUS Reading Program (K-3) was shared.  Teresa Ankney served on the staffing and professional development committee and founding committee.  For more information call Julie Hayn 301-371-4907.
 

Spring 2002 ....Represented at the MD State Special Education Advisory Committee meetings.
 

Spring 2002 ....Represented at the MD International Dyslexia Association (MDIDA) executive board meetings.
 

Spring 2002 ....Responded to request for parental input from the MD State Teachers Association, in regard to the State mandated assessments on student achievement.  Spoke with Chris Catramados, Parent Rep-MDPTA.
 

February 13, 2002 ....Attended the Frederick County Public Schools Redistricting Hearings.  In our view FCPS has found it easier and more desirable to bus children from our local housing projects to bring up their test scores than to remediate in their home base school. A very controversial issue that ended poorly.
 

February 4, 2002 ....Members met with Harry Fogle, Dir. Elementary and Special Education, to discuss the reading program in Carroll County.
 

January 31, 2002 ....Members gave testimony in Carroll County at the MD State Board of Education Forum in support of a "State Standardize Reading Curriculum," and nonsupport of COMAR regulations as they pertain to learning disabled/dyslexic students.
 

January 12, 2002 ....Members met with Delegate Jim Campbell, member of the Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Education Sub-Committee. Del. Campbell is willing to work with us on a legislative bill that would require Reading Programs in the State of MD to be in compliance with the scientific reading initiation.
 

December 6, 2001 ....Members testified at the IDEA reauthorization Hearings in Washington, D.C.
 

December 2001 ....Teresa, Fran, and Marion Joseph (from California) met with Robert Pasternack, Assistant Secretary of OSERS, Office of Special Education & Rehabilitation Services, U.S. Dept. of Ed, to discuss reading, special education and the reauthorization of the IDEA. 
 

November 28, 2001 ....Represented at the "Pathways to Partnership: A Special Education Leadership Forum" -  designed to bring parents, educators, and community leaders together to develop and/or strengthen local Special Education Citizens Advisory Committees (SECAC).  Sponsored by the MD Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) and the Special Education State Advisory Council SESAC).
 

November 5, 2001 ....Fran Bowman, Teresa and Eileen provided testimony before the Maryland State Department of Education Visionary Panel for Better Schools - Achievement Gap Committee.
 

November 2001 ....Members met with Marion Joseph who spearheaded the legislative reform for the California reading initiative.
 

November 2001 ....Members met with the Frederick County Delegates to the MD General Assembly to discuss our discontentment with the Special Education services in Frederick County Public Schools.
 

October 2001 ....PAGER represented at the MSDE to attend their Leadership Conference in Ocean City, MD.  
 

Fall 2001 ....Members provided written comment for the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services "New Freedom Initiative."  Individual families have filed for State level investigations into the lack of appropriate services.  If you have concerns, you can file a formal complaint to: Edward Wulkin, Branch Chief, Complaint Investigation, MSDE, 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-2595. This is free and they are required by law to investigate your concerns, if you write a letter of complaint.
 

Fall 2001 ....Members gave testimony twice before the Thornton Commission regarding Special Education, the need for accountability when providing additional funding.
 

Summer 2001 ....Members met with the Supervisor of Reading and Language Arts for Middle Schools to discuss the programs and texts currently used in Carroll County.  We requested that all new reading programs and related materials be based on scientifically researched products that have been proven effective.
 

May 30, 2001 ....Members testified before the "Gifted & Talented Open Commission" in Annapolis.   Our testimony focused on identifying the gifted and talented dyslexic students who are being denied recognition under the present guidelines.
 

May 2001 ....Mike Bowler, writer for the Baltimore Sun's Reading by 9 series, interviewed Teresa and Jean for the May 14, 2001 article, "Md. schools face crisis over special education."
 

April 25, 2001 ....Members met with Karl Pence, Advisor to the Governor on Education and Cary Witaker, represented the Lt. Governor, to discuss problems in Education.  Mr. Pence invited us to testify at the upcoming Gifted & Talented Open Commission Committee.
 

April 23, 2001 ....Members met with Dr. Nancy Grasmick, MD State Superintendent of Schools and Dr. Carol Ann Baglin, Asst. State Superintendent, to discuss the problems in reading instruction in our public schools.  (See letter printed under Correspondence)
 

April 4, 2001 ....Members attended a hearing at the Rayburn Building, Washington, D.C. The National Reading Panel Committee did a presentation before members of Congress on the proposed "No Child Left Behind" Act.
 

April 2001 ....Members attended Jonathan Mooney's lecture, "Learning Outside the Lines," held at Western Maryland College in Westminster.
 

March 11, 2001 ....Members manned a booth at the Women's Fair, held at Hood College in Frederick.
 

Spring 2001 ....Members met with Senators Barbara Mikulski and Paul Sarbanes staff members regarding legislation for education issues.