Special Education Quiz

How Does Special Education Funding Work? Test Your Knowledge

By Mark Lieberman — May 04, 2023 1 min read
Image of a student working with a teacher.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Every day, millions of American children receive special education services mandated by their individualized education plan, or IEP. Those services are far more costly and complex than the already-complex task of educating students without disabilities.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is the federal law that lays out states’ and school districts’ requirements for educating students with disabilities, and the funding mechanisms.

Beyond that, how much do you know about how special education works? Take our quiz below to find out.

Once you complete the quiz, you can see how your score compares to your peers’, get detailed explanations of the correct answers, and find additional reading and resources on the topic.

To learn more about the complexities of special education funding, read my explainer, How Special Education Funding Actually Works.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
Managing AI in Schools: Practical Strategies for Districts
How should districts govern AI in schools? Learn practical strategies for policies, safety, transparency, as well as responsible adoption.
Content provided by Lightspeed Systems
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
Unlocking Success for Struggling Adolescent Readers
The Science of Reading transformed K-3 literacy. Now it's time to extend that focus to students in grades 6 through 12.
Content provided by STARI
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Special Education Most—But Not All—Imperiled Federal Grants for Special Education Will Continue
The U.S. Department of Education says it wants projects aligned with Trump administration priorities.
5 min read
Scarlett Rasmussen, 8, tosses a ball with other classmates underneath a play structure during recess at Parkside Elementary School on May 17, 2023, in Grants Pass, Ore. Chelsea Rasmussen has fought for more than a year for her daughter, Scarlett, to attend full days at Parkside.
A student who receives special education services tosses a ball during recess at Parkside Elementary School on May 17, 2023, in Grants Pass, Ore. Several recipients of grants awarded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act learned Friday that the U.S. Department of Education would continue their grants for another year, provided they certify their projects align with Trump administration priorities.
Lindsey Wasson/AP
Special Education 4 Ways Principals Can Better Support Special Education Teachers
Special education teachers need support from their principals to avoid burnout, says a researcher. Here's how to offer it.
3 min read
A special education teacher helps a student with their work.
E+
Special Education Fears Grow That Trump Will Cut Special Education Support Funding
Advocacy organizations are warning members to brace for "hundreds" of grant terminations.
12 min read
Vivien Henshall, a long-term substitute special education teacher, works with Scarlett Rasmussen separately as other classmates listen to instructions from their teacher at Parkside Elementary School on May 17, 2023, in Grants Pass, Ore. Chelsea has fought for more than a year for her 8-year-old daughter, Scarlett, to attend full days at Parkside and says school employees told her the district lacked the staff to tend to Scarlett’s medical and educational needs, which the district denies. She was born with a genetic condition that causes her to have seizures and makes it hard for her to eat and digest food, requiring her to need a resident nurse at school.
Vivien Henshall, a long-term substitute special education teacher, works with Scarlett Rasmussen separately as other classmates listen to instructions from their teacher at Parkside Elementary School on May 17, 2023, in Grants Pass, Ore. Organizations that represent recipients of federal grants that pay for statewide special education infrastructure have told their members to prepare for their in-progress grants to be cut.
Lindsey Wasson/AP
Special Education Principals Don't Always Understand Special Education. That's a Problem
Principals want more special education training. Here's how one state is offering it.
Image of special needs student working with tablet computer.
iStock