Students With Disabilities

Read about the needs and experiences of students with disabilities in schools
Special education teacher Chris Simley, left, places a coffee order at a table staffed by student Jon Hahn, volunteer Phil Tegeler, student Brianna Dewater and student Mykala Robinson at Common Grounds coffee shop at Lincoln High in Lincoln, Neb., on Oct. 26, 2018. Down a hallway lined with Lincoln High School's signature red lockers, through the doors of Room 123, teachers can find a little early-morning salvation: a caffeine oasis open for business each Friday morning.
Special education teacher Chris Simley, left, places a coffee order at a table staffed by student Jon Hahn, volunteer Phil Tegeler, student Brianna Dewater, and student Mykala Robinson at Common Grounds coffee shop at Lincoln High in Lincoln, Neb., on Oct. 26, 2018. Policies regarding the maximum age at which students are eligible for special education services have changed quickly in recent years, providing a potential lifeline for families but a challenge for districts in keeping families abreast of the changes.
Gwyneth Roberts/Lincoln Journal Star via AP
Special Education Special Ed. Policies Can Change Fast. Districts Can Help Families Navigate Them
States have raised the maximum age of eligibility for special education services. But policies often change quickly.
Caitlynn Peetz, July 17, 2024
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4 min read
Blue conceptual image of five school kids walking away through school corridor, only one student in full color (isolated)
Liz Yap for Education Week + Getty
School Choice & Charters Here's How Charters Can Improve Experiences for Students With Disabilities
Charter schools must improve access and experiences for students with disabilities, advocates say.
Evie Blad, July 16, 2024
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3 min read
A sign outside the United States Government Accountability Office in central
iStock/Getty Images
Equity & Diversity Which Students Are Most Likely to Be Arrested in School?
A student’s race, gender, and disability status all heavily factor into which students are arrested.
Brooke Schultz, July 15, 2024
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3 min read
Photo collage of woman using tablet computer and AI icon.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Special Education Can AI Help With Special Ed.? There's Promise—and Reason to Be Cautious
Some special education professionals are experimenting with the technology.
Lauraine Langreo, July 1, 2024
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3 min read
An elementary student reads independently during class.
Allison Shelley/EDUimages
English Learners The Problem Schools Have Accurately Identifying English Learners
A U.S. Government Accountability Office report examines how states and districts are identifying English learners.
Ileana Najarro, June 28, 2024
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3 min read
Instructor working with adult special needs student.
iStock
Special Education Many Students Can Get Special Ed. Until Age 22. What Districts Should Do
School districts' responsibilities under federal special education law aren't always clear-cut.
Mark Lieberman, June 27, 2024
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4 min read
Blank puzzle pieces in a bunch with a person icon tile standing alone to the side.
Liz Yap/Education Week with iStock/Getty
Special Education Impact of Missed Special Ed. Evaluations Could Echo for Years
The onset of COVID-19 slowed special education identification. Four years later, a new study hints at the massive scale of the impact.
Evie Blad, June 25, 2024
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6 min read
Classroom materials show the days of the week and months of the year in Spanish in a dual-language class at UCLA Community School.
Classroom materials show the days of the week and months of the year in Spanish in a dual-language class at UCLA Community School.
Allison Shelley/EDUimages
English Learners Why Teachers of English Learners With Disabilities Need Specialized Training
An expert discusses what comprehensive training works best for teachers working with students who are English learners with disabilities.
Ileana Najarro, June 25, 2024
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3 min read
Teacher helping adult special-needs student with computer.
iStock
Special Education Who's Eligible for Special Education Services? Schools Struggle to Keep Up
Many states now require schools to offer special education services to students until they turn 22. Costs and logistics can be daunting.
Mark Lieberman & Caitlynn Peetz, June 18, 2024
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9 min read
061324 Monroe High School Thumbnail BS
Special Education Video Students With Disabilities 'Have Gotten Their Dignity Back' at This High School
A state partnership involving 16 schools aims to ensure that students with disabilities spend more of their time in mainstream classrooms.
Caitlynn Peetz & Kaylee Domzalski, June 13, 2024
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3 min read
Reading & Literacy Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Dyslexia?
Answer 7 questions about dyslexia.
June 4, 2024
Kindergarten students in Washington, D.C. explore various activity centers in their classroom on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.
Kindergarten students in Washington, D.C. explore various activity centers in their classroom on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.
Allison Shelley/EDUimages
Special Education Video How One School Fosters Belonging for Students With Disabilities
The school transformed what has traditionally been a model of exclusion in U.S. education.
Caitlynn Peetz, May 30, 2024
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3 min read
Glossary abstract concept open book with special education iconography
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock/Getty Images
Special Education Explainer A Guide to Special Education Terms
The number of students in special education has increased steadily in the last four decades. Here are some of the common terms used.
Brooke Schultz, May 21, 2024
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7 min read
Student standing in front of a school that's distorted, hinting at changing realities.
Nicole Xu for Education Week
Special Report Special Education: Adapting to Challenging Realities
Exploring how special education services are adapting to unprecedented challenges and opportunities in education, from teacher shortages to technological advancements.
May 13, 2024
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