Special Education Policy

Get insights into the federal, state, and local rules and polices regarding special education
Special Education Betsy DeVos Invited to Address Annual Special Education Conference
The U.S. secretary of education is scheduled to address a conference sponsored by the office of special education programs, where experts discuss federal topics related to students with disabilities.
Christina A. Samuels, July 14, 2017
2 min read
Special Education Special Educators Head to Capitol Hill With 'Sense of Urgency'
Members of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Council for Administrators of Special Education want Congress to preserve Medicaid and allocate more money for special education and gifted education.
Christina A. Samuels, July 11, 2017
3 min read
Special Education Education Department Launches New Special Education Site
A refreshed website hosted by the U.S. Department of Education includes links to the special education law, regulations and other resources.
Christina A. Samuels, June 1, 2017
1 min read
Special Education Education Department Seeks Comment on Revised IDEA Website
The comments will be used to create a "new and improved" special education website to be housed at idea.ed.gov, which was offline for several weeks earlier this year.
Christina A. Samuels, March 9, 2017
1 min read
Special Education When Will We Have a New Federal Special Education Chief? (And Why It Matters)
The federal office of special education and rehabilitative services doesn't have a new chief, and advocates say they're worried about special education being on the backburner.
Christina A. Samuels, March 7, 2017
4 min read
Special Education Betsy DeVos Faces Sharp Questioning on Special Education Policy
The nominee for education secretary appeared to stumble during her confirmation hearing as senators pushed on whether she would adhere to the protections of special education law and policy.
Christina A. Samuels, January 18, 2017
5 min read
Special Education Final Rule Released on Identifying Racial Bias in Special Education
Many more school districts will be required to use special education money to address minority overrepresentation under a final rule released Monday by the U.S. Department of Education.
Christina A. Samuels, December 12, 2016
3 min read
Special Education What Will a Trump Administration Mean for Special Education?
In a questionnaire prepared by disability advocacy groups, the Trump campaign stressed the federal government's limited role in local education.
Christina A. Samuels, November 9, 2016
1 min read
Special Education Education Secretary Notes Progress, Challenges at Spec. Ed. Convention
U.S. Secretary of Education John King Jr. addressed the first joint meeting between two groups that represent district and state-level special education leaders.
Christina A. Samuels, September 26, 2016
2 min read
School & District Management How Texas Keeps Special Education Enrollment Low
School officials say that oversight from the state prompted them to keep special education enrollment at no more than 8.5 percent, even if that meant delaying evaluations or shifting kids into services that offered less legal obligation.
Christina A. Samuels, September 12, 2016
3 min read
Special Education Feds Sketch Out Details of Literacy Center for Students With Disabilities
The Every Student Succeeds Act included the creation of a comprehensive center aimed at students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills.
Christina A. Samuels, June 14, 2016
2 min read
Special Education Head of Special Education, Rehabilitative Services Leaving Education Department
Yudin, who has been with the U.S. Department of Education since 2010, did not say in an email to colleagues what he plans to do after leaving April 30.
Christina A. Samuels, April 6, 2016
2 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act ESSA Panel Weighs Rules for Testing for Those With Severe Cognitive Disabilities
Changes in the Every Student Succeeds Act will mean new regulations governing the testing of about 1 percent of students with severe cognitive disabilities.
Christina A. Samuels, March 25, 2016
4 min read
Special Education Racial Bias in Special Education: Learning About Disproportionality
The Education Department says that states need tighter guidelines on how to assess districts for racial and ethnic bias in special education. But just how are states figuring out if minorities are being shunted inappropriately to special education classes?
Christina A. Samuels, March 4, 2016
9 min read