Special Education Blog

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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.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 Martial Arts Moves Banned for Student Restraint, Says Kentucky Ed. Chief
Cross-posted from Rules for Engagement
Evie Blad, August 8, 2016
3 min read
Special Education Ed. Dept: Schools Must Provide Behavioral Supports to Students Who Need Them
The guidance was issued to draw attention to--and reduce--the number of students with disabilities suspended multiple times from school.
Christina A. Samuels, August 6, 2016
1 min read
Special Education Website Accessibility: Ten Things School Districts Should Know
The Education Department's civil rights office is looking at school districts' websites for accessibility issues. How should you prepare your website so that it's available to all users?
Christina A. Samuels, August 3, 2016
8 min read
Special Education Hillary Clinton Spotlighted Disability Rights Activism in Nomination Acceptance
Clinton revisited her 1970s-era advocacy work at the Children's Defense Fund during her speech accepting the Democratic Party nomination for president.
Christina A. Samuels, July 29, 2016
1 min read
Equity & Diversity Ed. Dept. Releases ADHD Guidance to Commemorate ADA Anniversary
The guidance, released on the 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, reminds schools of their obligations to students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Christina A. Samuels, July 27, 2016
1 min read
School & District Management Nevada District's Special Education Program Under Scrutiny
The Reno Gazette-Journal spent two years investigating special education in Washoe schools, the state's second-largest district, and found a district that has poorly served students with disabilities
Christina A. Samuels, July 25, 2016
1 min read
School & District Management Ky. Education Chief to Review Restraint, Seclusion in State's Largest District
Stephen Pruitt, Kentucky's education commissioner, is sending state staffers to review restraint and seclusion practices in Jefferson County.
Christina A. Samuels, July 22, 2016
1 min read
States More Than Half of States Need Help Meeting Special Education Requirements
Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia need support in meeting requirements of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, according to the U.S. Department of Education's latest assessment.
Christina A. Samuels, July 11, 2016
1 min read
Teaching School Resources for Supporting Child Mental Health
The New York-based Child Mind Institute highlights several evidence-based options for educators looking to support students with mental health needs.
Christina A. Samuels, July 7, 2016
1 min read
Special Education Education Department Settles Civil Rights Complaints Over Accessible Websites
Education entities in seven states and one territory were under investigation because of websites deemed inaccessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.
Christina A. Samuels, June 29, 2016
2 min read
Law & Courts U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Special Education Case Involving Service Dog
The case, which is about exhaustion of remedies under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, stems from a dispute about whether a service dog was allowed in school.
Mark Walsh, June 29, 2016
3 min read
Special Education National Center for Learning Disabilities Announces New President
Mimi Clarke Corcoran will become president of the disability advocacy organization in July, replacing James H. Wendorf.
Christina A. Samuels, June 24, 2016
2 min read
States New York State Eases Graduation Requirements for Students With Disabilities
The change requires superintendents to determine if a student has met the learning standards for a high school course, rather than relying solely on end-of-course test scores.
Christina A. Samuels, June 15, 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