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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.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 Funding
Federal Special Education Spending Increase Would Touch All Ages
The proposed federal spending bill released Wednesday would provide more money for students with disabilities from infancy through age 21.
School & District Management
Autism Screening Reaching More Young Children, but More Work Remains
A 2010 survey of 4-year-olds with autism found that they were evaluated for the disorder at younger ages than 8-year-olds with autism. But researchers said there's still room for improving early evaluation services.
Special Education
What Does ESSA Mean for Special Education?
Students with disabilities will still have their test scores reported separately, and most will continue to take the general education tests under the newly signed Every Student Succeeds Act.
School & District Management
ADHD Prevalence Rising Among Hispanics, Girls, Study Finds
While white males still make up the largest number of children and youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the rate of growth among white males is outstripped by the rate of growth among girls and among Hispanics, according to a new study.
Special Education
Young Adults With Down Syndrome Star in New Cable Reality Show
"Born this Way," featuring seven young adults with Down syndrome, premieres at 10 p.m. ET December 8 on the A&E network.
Teaching Profession
NEA President Apologizes for 'Epic Failure' in Gala Speech
Lily Eskelsen García, the president of the National Education Association, said her use of the terms "chronically tarded and medically annoying" to refer to students represented a verbal mistake and a failed attempt at humor.
Education Funding
Special Education Teachers to Get Boost From Google on 'Giving Tuesday'
Google.org, the charitable arm of the Internet giant, is launching a $1 million matching grant to help special education teachers who have posted requests on the website Donors Choose.
Teaching Profession
Disability Groups Condemn NEA President Over Perceived Slurs
In what she later characterized as a verbal stumble, Lily Eskelsen García used wording that has drawn the ire of parents and disability advocacy groups.
Special Education
Federal Special Education Official to Step Down by Year's End
Melody Musgrove, currently the director of the office of special education programs, will be returning to her home in Mississippi.
Special Education
IEPs Must Be Aligned to Grade-Level Standards, Says New Federal Guidance
An individualized education program is intended to allow a student to be involved in, and make progress in, the general education curriculum, according to recent guidance from the Education Department.
School & District Management
Response to Intervention Challenges Focus of New Federal Study
A recent study of response to intervention in 13 states shows that 1st graders who receive targeted reading instruction show no benefit from the process.
Assessment
NAEP Scores for Students With Disabilities Show Wide Achievement Gap
Scores for students with disabilities on the "nation's report card" continue to trail significantly the scores of students without disabilities, with little ground gained.
School & District Management
Children Who Lose Autism Label Subject of New Research
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that about 13 percent of parents reported their children losing an autism diagnosis, and it was often replaced with another disability.
Special Education
It's Fine For Districts to 'Say Dyslexia,' According to New Ed. Dept. Guidance
The Education Department's advisory to school districts about using the specific term "dyslexia" is being seen as a win for advocates.