On Special Education
Explored the opportunities and obstacles educators encounter while serving students with special needs, including children with disabilities, gifted students, and those who are homeless or incarcerated. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.
Education
Ed. Dept. to Investigate 12 Texas Districts Over Special Education Enrollment
The extra scrutiny comes after a newspaper investigation found some districts had suppressed the number of students identified for special education in order to meet a state benchmark.
Education
White House Hosts Special Education Administrator at Listening Session
Jane M. Quenneville, the principal of a public school for students with severe disabilities, shared her concerns about teacher shortages and segregation of special education students.
Special Education
Senators Seek Answers from DeVos on Special Education Website Outage
Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both Democratic senators from Washington, want to know why the centralized website for the IDEA and related resources has been down for several days.
Special Education
The IDEA Website Is Down (For Now), But IDEA Is Still Around
The U.S. Department of Education's website that hosts the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and its regulations has been down for several days, but there are other places to access the text of the law.
Education
DeVos: Special Ed. Choice 'Empowers Parents,' But Freedom Comes With Cost
Betsy DeVos, the former chairman of the American Federation for Children and the Trump administration's pick for U.S. Secretary of Education, cleared her first hurdle Jan. 31 when the Senate education committee voted to send her nomination to the full Senate (but not without some drama!).
Special Education
Disability Advocates Keep Up Pressure on DeVos Nomination
Special education policy is in the spotlight as disability advocates band together to oppose President Donald Trump's nomination of Betsy DeVos for education secretary.
Teaching Profession
Tune in for Webinar on Achieving Co-Teaching Success
Join me and teaching veteran Elizabeth L. Stein for a lively discussion of tips for a successful co-teaching partnership.
Education
In Letter, DeVos Says She'll Protect 'Hard Won Rights' of Students With Disabilities
In a Jan. 24 letter to Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos said she is committed to enforcing all federal laws and protecting the rights of students with disabilities.
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.
Law & Courts
U.S. Supreme Court Considers Level of Special Education Benefits
Many observers sensed the justices seemed willing to consider a higher standard for the benefit that must be conferred to a student under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
School Climate & Safety
Bullying and Students With Disabilities: A Resource Guide
The livestreamed attack on a man with mental disabilities in Chicago has raised attention to the problem of bullying in this uniquely vulnerable population.
States
Last Day to Submit Comments on Texas Special Education Enrollment
Jan. 6 is the last day to submit comments to the U.S. Department of Education about their experiences with Texas' special education identification processes.
School Climate & Safety
New Guidance Outlines Civil Rights Protections for Students With Disabilities
Three new documents describe the responsibilities of all schools, including charters, in following Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Special Education
Study: Students With ADHD Not Helped by Common Test Accommodations
Extended testing time or frequent breaks did not appear to help students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder perform better on a standardized test, a new study found.