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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.

Special Education Education Official Stresses Need for 'Results-Driven Accountability'
The U.S. Department of Education plans to be more flexible in assisting states, said Michael Yudin, a department official, at a meeting of state education board members.
Christina A. Samuels, March 13, 2014
1 min read
Teaching Profession Education Week Webinar Offers Advice on Teaching Literacy to At-Risk Students
Two literacy experts discussed techniques for teaching literacy in the era of the Common Core State Standards, something that many teachers say they don't feel prepared to do.
Christina A. Samuels, March 11, 2014
1 min read
Special Education New York Times Shines Spotlight on 'Sheltered Employment'
The newspaper offers a detailed account of the lives of men with intellectual disabilities who worked for decades at a turkey-processing plant, earning less than $100 a month.
Christina A. Samuels, March 11, 2014
1 min read
Special Education Some Disappointed With White House Special Education Funding Proposal
Some advocates say the administration is not paying enough attention to programs aimed at preschool-aged children with disabilities.
Christina A. Samuels, March 7, 2014
1 min read
School & District Management Wealthy Districts Restrain, Seclude More Than High Poverty Districts, Study Asserts
While few districts overall use these techniques to manage student behavior, they are most likely to be used on students with disabilities, the researchers said.
Christina A. Samuels, February 28, 2014
1 min read
Assessment National Federation of the Blind Settles Lawsuit Against PARCC
The common-core assessment consortium plans to work closely with the advocacy organization to create accessible field tests for blind students.
Christina A. Samuels, February 25, 2014
1 min read
School & District Management Prenatal Exposure to Acetaminophen Correlated With Development of ADHD
The findings come through a study of more than 64,000 Danish children, many of whom had mothers who took acetaminophen during pregnancy.
Christina A. Samuels, February 25, 2014
2 min read
Special Education N.J. Enters Agreement on Inclusion for Students With Disabilities
The federal court settlement was prompted by a long-running lawsuit filed by four disability advocacy groups.
Christina A. Samuels, February 24, 2014
2 min read
School & District Management Gender Plays Role in Delayed Language Development, Study Says
Boys, and children in families where other members have reading and writing difficulties, are most at risk for certain types of language delays, new research says.
Christina A. Samuels, February 22, 2014
1 min read
Assessment New York Sends Request for Out-of-Level Testing Flexibility to U.S. Ed. Dept.
The state has outlined several protections that it believes would protect these students, who are not able to demonstrate what they know on grade-level tests.
Christina A. Samuels, February 14, 2014
1 min read
School Climate & Safety Report: Families Have Few Resources to Fight Restraint, Seclusion of Children
Along with the report's release, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, reintroduced a bill that would severely restrict or prohibit the use of restraints and seclusion in schools.
Christina A. Samuels, February 12, 2014
2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Graduation Rate for Mississippi Students With Disabilities Under the Microscope
Many students from the Magnolia State are shifted into alternative diploma paths which may leave them unable to get a job or enroll in college, according to a recent special report.
Christina A. Samuels, February 6, 2014
1 min read
Assessment Education Department Official Reaffirms Commitment to Grade-Level Testing
New York is considering asking the Education Department for permission to test students at a lower grade level than their chronological age.
Christina A. Samuels, January 31, 2014
1 min read
Assessment National Federation of Blind Sues PARCC Over Field Test
Pilot tests being developed by one of two common-core testing consortia will not allow the use of Braille or text-to-speech technology.
Christina A. Samuels, January 28, 2014
2 min read