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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.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 No Summer Break From Problems with Special Ed.
Summertime doesn't mean parents of children with disabilities can take a vacation from fighting for their children's education.
Nirvi Shah, June 21, 2011
1 min read
Special Education N.C. Bill to Give Schooling Tax Credits Passes Legislature
North Carolina lawmakers on Thursday approved a tax break of up to $6,000 a year for parents to recover some of the expense of private school tuition or homeschooling for their child with disabilities.
Nirvi Shah, June 17, 2011
1 min read
Special Education Are L.A. Charter Schools Screening Out Special Ed. Students?
While traditional district schools are hard-pressed to turn anyone away, or must find a way to educate them regardless of cost or hardship, charters appear to be using a vetting process that may explain the stark difference in the percentages of students with disabilities enrolled in their schools versus district-run schools.
Nirvi Shah, June 15, 2011
1 min read
School & District Management What is the Value of Gifted Programs?
A new study suggests some aspects of gifted education used to improve the achievement of a broader group of students may provide less of a boost than previously believed.
Nirvi Shah, June 13, 2011
1 min read
Education Funding The Challenge of Saving Money in Special Ed
In many districts, the portion of the budget devoted to students with disabilities has grown significantly over the years and is perceived as being untouchable. I can understand how even bringing up the subject of saving money on special ed expenses might terrify parents.
Nirvi Shah, June 10, 2011
1 min read
School Choice & Charters Complaint: Milwaukee Vouchers Segregate Students With Disabilities
The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have filed a complaint that accuses the state of Wisconsin and some private schools that accept vouchers of creating a system of segregated public schools.
Nirvi Shah, June 8, 2011
1 min read
Special Education Early Intervention and Longterm Support Key for Deaf Students
The challenges of teaching children who are deaf or hard of hearing starts signed or spoken language start early and continue for years.
Nirvi Shah, June 1, 2011
3 min read
Special Education Technology Must Be Accessible to All, Feds Reaffirm
All schools must ensure that any technological device they use is accessible to students with disabilities.
Nirvi Shah, May 26, 2011
2 min read
Special Education Report Probes the Future of Special Education
A new report looks at how special education students and the people who work with them have changed during the last decade and concludes that the field needs to change, dramatically.
Nirvi Shah, May 25, 2011
2 min read
Special Education More Vouchers, But at What Price?
This year, 15 states have passed or proposed laws that expand or create vouchers for students with special needs.
Nirvi Shah, May 23, 2011
2 min read
Law & Courts Federal Ed Dept. Will Offer Guidance on Restraints, Seclusion
The U.S. Department of Education will for the first time give school districts guidance on when to use restraints and seclusion as ways on children with disabilities.
Nirvi Shah, May 18, 2011
2 min read
School & District Management D.C. Gets Dressed Down in Suit Over Identifying Students
In a case over whether the District of Columbia did enough to identify students with disabilities, the judge was unimpressed by the district's efforts to hand over thousands of documents related to the case.
Nirvi Shah, May 18, 2011
2 min read
Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorders May Lead to More Bullying
A new study finds that adolescents with autism spectrum disorders are more likely to be victims of bullies because of their impairments in social interaction and "emotional competency."
Nirvi Shah, May 13, 2011
1 min read
Special Education Senate Bill Would Increase Federal Support for RTI
Sen. Patty Murray's bill would put more money into literacy programs, including response to intervention.
Nirvi Shah, May 11, 2011
2 min read