Boom in autistic students prompts new Montgomery school centers (Washington Examiner): “Montgomery County Public Schools is planning to open autism centers at three high schools in the new school year, as the district grapples with a fivefold increase in the number of students diagnosed with autism over the last decade.” Since the 2000/2001 school year, the number of MCPS students on the autism spectrum has jumped from 266 to 1,642 — which, assumedly, is in part due to improvements in diagnostic procedures. In particular, “special education staff acknowledged they also need to ramp up efforts to reach the diversifying swath of students who have special needs, such as immigrant families who may not speak English.”

Some States Looking to (and Funding) Arts as Economic Driver (Nonprofit Quarterly): “The news service for the Pew Center on the States reports that “there has been a 37 percent drop in funding for state arts agencies since 2001.” However, a creative repackaging of the arts as an economic engine has, in some states, reversed this trend over the last year.” And according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), this year’s state arts funding budgets have increased by approximately nine percent. You can check out all of Catalogue’s local arts organizations right here.

Everything I Need To Know About Life I Learned On My Nonprofit Board (Fast Company): “This is a life lesson for people in workplaces, families, classrooms, and any relationship. That peace, happiness, and fulfillment come from creating a mutual understanding of what you?re trying to accomplish and each person?s role in achieving success,” writes Alice Korngold, CSR consultant to global corporations. She also points to the value of clearly-articulated values, discussed with the Board and shared with the public. “It is usually a [...] source of energy and even exhilaration when people finally see how and what they can contribute to achieve success for a cause in which they believe.