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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.
School & District Management
Inclusion, Career and Technical Education Help Students With Disabilities
Students with disabilities who spend 80 percent or more of their day in general education have better outcomes than similar peers, as do those who take a concentration of career and technical education courses.
School Choice & Charters
What Does Federal Law Say about Vouchers and Students With Disabilities?
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has said schools receiving federal money must follow federal laws, but laws relating to students with disabilities who use vouchers are murky.
Special Education
Education Department Launches New Special Education Site
A refreshed website hosted by the U.S. Department of Education includes links to the special education law, regulations and other resources.
School Climate & Safety
Heavy Response to Nebraska Restraint Bill Illuminates Teachers' Frustrations
A Nebraska senator introduced a bill that would give teachers legal cover to physically restraint disruptive students, prompting a strong positive response from members of the state teachers' union.
School & District Management
New 'State of Learning Disabilities' Report Tackles Stigmas
The National Center for Learning Disabilities, an advocacy organization, released its latest "State of Learning Disabilities" report Tuesday, offering statistics, policy recommendations and personal stories.
States
Michigan Lt. Gov. Says State ESSA Plan Needs a Do-Over for Special Education
Republican Brian Calley said that the plan already submitted to the U.S. Department of Education should be modified to reflect more accountability for the performance of students with disabilities.
School & District Management
How Many States Are Following Federal Restraint and Seclusion Guidelines?
States have adopted some of the restraint and seclusion guidelines recommended by the U.S. Department of Education, but that adoption has been uneven.
School & District Management
Are High School Students With Disabilities Prepared for Life After School?
A two-volume research report funded by the U.S. Department of Education offers a deep dive into the characteristics of youth with disabilities who are transitioning out of high school.
Law & Courts
Advocates Hail Supreme Court Ruling on Special Education Rights
Students with disabilities must be provided an educational program that allows them to make progress appropriate to their individual circumstances, the high court ruled on Wednesday.
Education Funding
Special Education Funding Maintained in Trump Administration Budget Blueprint
Special education funding would hold steady under the Trump administration's budget blueprint released Thursday, but the document includes no information about some other disability programs.
Special Education
Education Department Seeks Comment on Revised IDEA Website
The comments will be used to create a "new and improved" special education website to be housed at idea.ed.gov, which was offline for several weeks earlier this year.
Special Education
When Will We Have a New Federal Special Education Chief? (And Why It Matters)
The federal office of special education and rehabilitative services doesn't have a new chief, and advocates say they're worried about special education being on the backburner.
States
What States Have Special Education Vouchers, And How Are They Working?
States have several educational choice programs aimed at students with disabilities. But are those programs working well for families? We'd like to hear from you.
Special Education
Government's Special Education Website Is Back After Prolonged Outage
After several days, the Education Department-hosted website that includes the Individuals with Disabilities Act is back up and running, and a better website is on the way, promised Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.