Group works to include all children in education

The Nevada Partnership for Inclusive Education, popularly known as Nevada PIE, is a collaboration among the Clark County School District, the Nevada System for Higher Education, the Public Education Foundation and the community. Its aim is to expose all students -- including those who have disabilities, who speak different languages and who come from different family environments -- to greater opportunities to learn in the classroom.

"There is more of a diverse population in our schools than ever before, and learning can never and should never be one size fits all," says Judy Machabee, Nevada PIE executive director.

The nonprofit group teaches approximately 250 college students a year to apply inclusive classroom practices through an initiative called The Inclusion Partnership; brings world-class writers into high schools through its Just Voices literacy program; and bestows educators who apply inclusive practices with its annual Best Inclusive Practices awards.

Raised entirely through private donations, its annual operating budget is about $308,000, according to Machabee -- not including the $1.7 million committed this school year by the Clark County School District for furthering inclusive practices.

Nevada PIE was founded in 2003 by Rhonda Glyman, the mother of a learning-disabled son who needed help he couldn't get within the school system. She brought the partners together for a pilot program at Green Valley High School. Last year, that program expanded to more than 100 area schools.

"The sooner we understand that and recognize that every child learns differently and needs exposure to the general curriculum and a welcome attitude in a classroom," Machabee says, "the sooner our schools will improve and achievement will go up."