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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: students with disabilities, gifted education, and homeless.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 FDA Bans Use of Shock Therapy at School for Students With Special Needs
The FDA estimates that between 45 and 50 students at a Massachusetts school for students with autism, emotional disturbances, and intellectual disabilities are subjected to electrical shocks through electrodes attached to their skin.
Corey Mitchell, March 5, 2020
2 min read
Special Education What Exactly Is Gifted Education? A New Guide Attempts to Explain
A new resource offers some basic information on how to teach and connect with academically talented students for teachers and administrators who are new to the field.
Corey Mitchell, March 2, 2020
1 min read
Image shows the abbreviation ADHD on crumpled paper ball, with several other crumpled balls of paper.
Getty
Equity & Diversity ADHD, Other Developmental Disabilities More Common in Rural Areas
Rural families are less likely to use special education or early intervention services than children living in urban areas, a new survey reveals.
Corey Mitchell, February 26, 2020
1 min read
Equity & Diversity Q&A Autistic School Board Member Pushes for Inclusion, Understanding
Schools are "still dealing with the belief that children [with disabilities] can't be educated with their peers," says Nicki Vander Meulen, an autistic school board member in Madison, Wis.
Corey Mitchell, February 19, 2020
5 min read
Special Education Principals Say They Need Help to Support Students With Disabilities
The need for materials, training, guidance from district administrators, and access to staff with expertise in serving students with disabilities is especially acute in schools that serve primarily black and Latino students, a new survey finds.
Corey Mitchell, February 13, 2020
1 min read
Special Education Many Children With ADHD Aren't Taking Medication, Study Finds
"Pretending your child doesn't have it or saying, 'Yeah, they might have it, but I don't want them to take medication,'" is not the best approach, one school nurse told Education Week.
Corey Mitchell, February 11, 2020
5 min read
School & District Management Building Better Special Education Leaders One State at a Time
Delaware is among three states using federal grants to develop school and district leaders who understand the complexities of special education.
Corey Mitchell, January 31, 2020
2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Teacher Prep Needs More Focus on Students With Disabilities, Report Says
To their detriment, teacher preparation programs 'do not center students with disabilities in their curriculum,' a new report from the Center for American Progress concludes.
Corey Mitchell, January 23, 2020
2 min read
Special Education School Districts Struggle With Special Education Costs
For decades, special education advocates have urged the federal government to "fully fund" the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Here are some examples 'ripped from the headlines' of how the funding gap is affecting school districts.
Corey Mitchell, January 22, 2020
2 min read
Special Education Our Most-Read Special Education Stories of 2019
The most popular special education stories of the year examined the broken promises of special education, the aftermath of the lead crisis in Flint, Mich., and how educators lack confidence in their ability to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
Corey Mitchell, December 30, 2019
1 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Fifth-grade teacher Kara Houppert, right, and special education teacher Lauren Eisinger co-teach a class at Naples Elementary School in Naples, N.Y.
Mike Bradley for Education Week
Special Education Help for Principals Who Want to Support Special Education Teachers and Students
A new guide offers advice on how school leaders can best serve students with disabilities and support special education teachers.
Corey Mitchell, December 19, 2019
2 min read
Special Education Does Special Education Work for Students With Learning Disabilities?
The answer is yes, especially for students who enter special education before middle school, find the authors of a recent report.
Corey Mitchell, November 6, 2019
3 min read
Special Education Preparing Students for Life After Special Education? Here's How Federal Dollars Can Help
When can schools use federal funds to help students with disabilities prepare for life after special education? A new resource from the federal education department offers a road map.
Corey Mitchell, September 18, 2019
1 min read
English-Language Learners Ways to Better Serve Often-Misunderstood English-Learners With Disabilities
Identifying and supporting students who are eligible for English-language acquisition and special education support can leave teachers feeling underprepared and overwhelmed. A new policy paper offers support.
Corey Mitchell, July 31, 2019
2 min read