Special Education
IEPs. Learning disabilities. Inclusion. IDEA. Response to intervention. Gifted education. Explore all EdWeek coverage of special education
Special Education: Definition, Statistics, and Trends
What is special education and what do we know about the student special education population and the teachers who educate them?
- Special Education New AI-Powered Sensors Could Tell Teachers What’s Really Going on With StudentsResearchers are testing wearable sensors that track movement and body language of kids with autism and other conditions.Special Education Explainer MTSS: What Is a Multi-Tiered System of Supports?MTSS, or multi-tiered system of supports, is a widely used framework meant to offer students personalized education that meets their needs.Special Education 3 Reasons Why More Students Are in Special EducationOver the past 40 years, the number of students in special education has doubled due to better identification and less stigma, experts said.Special Education Educators Share Advice on Supporting Students With Learning DifferencesStudents with learning differences benefit from flexibility, inclusivity, and clear communication, educators said.Special Education Opinion 'I Dread Being at This Table.' How to Improve the IEP ProcessIEP meetings take an emotional toll on families. But they can be turned into a forum where hope for the possibilities of schooling prevail.Special Education Letter to the Editor Schools Must Do Better to Meet IDEA RequirementsMore states must follow through on this law.Special Education Test Your Knowledge: How Does Universal Screening for Dyslexia in Schools Work?Take our quiz to gauge your knowledge of the language processing disorder—and find links to further reading.Special Education Letter to the Editor Reevaluating My Language Around DisabilityA recent opinion essay encouraged this teacher to unpack her approach to labeling students with specific disability classifications.Special Education Can AI Write a Good IEP? What Special Education Experts SayAI tools could ease paperwork burdens and offer new supports for students—but privacy and efficacy concerns are real.Special Education Q&A Creating Inclusive Classrooms for Blind Students Can Benefit Everyone. Here's How6 questions with a teacher who has dedicated her career to teaching and supporting blind children.Special Education One State's Approach for Struggling Math Learners: IEP-Style PlansFlorida wants to develop a form of individualized education programs to target help to students who lag far behind in math.Special Education The Number of Students in Special Education Has Doubled in the Past 45 YearsThe number of students in special education in the U.S. has doubled, from 3.6 million in 1976-77 to almost 7.3 million in 2021-22.Special Education Do More to Ensure Schools Meet Obligations to Students With Disabilities, Feds Tell StatesStates must have "robust" systems to ensure schools obey federal special education law, new guidance says.Special Education Explainer What Is an IEP? Individualized Education Programs, ExplainedWhat IEPs are, what their purpose is, and which students are eligible.Special Education Opinion Educating Dyslexic Students Starts With Educating Teachers About DyslexiaCountless teachers enter the classroom without any training on dyslexia. That’s been devastating for students like my son, writes one mother and dyslexia advocate.