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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.
Assessment
Advocates Call for End to Testing Under Modified Academic Standards
The so-called "2 percent" tests prevent some special education students from accessing grade-level content, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities argues.
Federal
Special Education Groups Criticize House NCLB Rewrite
The groups uniformly disapprove of the elimination of some accountability provisions under the bill, which was approved in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Early Childhood
Study: High Quality Matters More Than Specific Model for Preschoolers with Autism
The common features of various approaches used in educating young students with autism may be more meaningful than the unique elements, researchers have found.
Special Education
School for Blind Expands Online Resources for Educators
The Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Mass., is positioning itself as a resource for regular classroom teachers as well as educators specifically trained in teaching blind students.
Special Education
Online Tool Helps Doctors Engage Parents on Learning Disabilities
The LD Navigator, developed by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, offers resources that doctors can share with patients and their families.
Special Education
Ed. Dept. Finds Areas to Improve in Review of Common-Core Test Accessibility
The department's technical review process also found areas that both consortia have handled well.
Special Education
Florida Law Enhances Special Education Rights
One change will require parents to agree to special diploma tracks or placement in alternative schools.
Standards & Accountability
PARCC Adopts Spec. Ed. Testing Policy For Common Core
The 17-state governing board adopted a manual that gives guidelines on issues such as read-aloud accommodations on the English/language arts tests, and calculator usage on the math test.
States
South Carolina May Be Next Special Education Voucher State
The state budget includes $8 million that can be used to help provide vouchers of up to $10,000 for students with disabilities to attend private schools.
Special Education
Braille Instruction Receives Boost From Education Department
In a letter to schools, districts and states, the Education Department notes that special education law requires that blind and visually impaired students should be taught Braille unless an IEP team deems such instruction inappropriate.
School & District Management
Los Angeles Moves to 'Mainstream' Hundreds of Students
The district must comply with a consent decree to reduce, by 33 percent, the number of students enrolled in
Special Education
Justice Department Criticizes Rhode Island Sheltered Workshop
Providence has shut down a program for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities that required them work at menial jobs at wages far below the state minimum.
Families & the Community
Ed. Dept. Solicits Applications for Technical Assistance Centers
Two separate grant applications will provide money to help parent centers and to assist states in IDEA data collection.
Teaching Profession
Minnesota Faces Special Education Teacher Shortage
The longrunning concern about too few special education teachers is vividly illustrated in a recent article that outlines one state's challenges.