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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.
Special Education
Alternate Tests for Special Education Still Sticking Point for ESSA Panel
The panel tasked with creating rules to govern the Every Student Succeeds Act is hung up language in the law relating to testing students with severe cognitive disabilities.
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.
School & District Management
Autism Prevalence Stable, But Varies Widely Among Communities, Groups
The autism rate between 2010 and 2012 remained at 1 in 68 8-year-olds, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, with differences among communities, races, and ethnicities.
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.
School & District Management
ADHD and Immaturity: What Parents and Educators Need to Know
A study finds that children who are younger than their grade-level peers more often are diagnosed with and medicated for ADHD. Here's some key takeaways.
School Climate & Safety
Learning, Behavioral Issues Could Be Defense for Virginia Students
Students will be allowed to use school records as evidence in cases where they are charged with acting "willfully or intentionally."
Law & Courts
Judge Withdraws Order to Release Calif. Student Records for Special Education Suit
The California Department of Education will retain control of the student database, but plaintiffs in a case representing special education students will be able to request targeted searches of the information.
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?
Special Education
Challenges of Inclusion Explored in Special NewsHour Report
The Los Angeles Unified School District has worked to move many students out of separate settings, such as dedicated special education schools, and into their neighborhood schools.
Law & Courts
Chanda Smith, the Face of Los Angeles' Special Education Reform
The L.A. school district says it has made major efforts to improve special education; a lawsuit involving Smith, now a mother of four, got the ball rolling.
Equity & Diversity
Justice Department Eyes Accommodations on SAT, ACT
In some states, students with disabilities are required to take one of the college-entrance exams, but some can't get the testing accommodations they need.
Special Education
Ed. Dept. Seeks Standard Approach to Flagging Racial Bias in Special Education
A proposed rule would require all districts to use a common yardstick in measuring whether they over-identify minority students for special education services.
Early Childhood
Universal Autism Screening Lacks Evidence of Benefit, Medical Panel Finds
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force said more research is needed before it could recommend universal screening for autism spectrum disorder.
School Choice & Charters
Oklahoma Special Education Vouchers Pass State Constitutional Muster
The ruling on Oklahoma's Lindsay Nicole Henry Scholarships could open the door for more voucher options in the Sooner State.