Special Education

January 10, 2019

Windfall for California K-12 schools, more spending from early to higher ed in Newsom's first budget

Newsom would increase spending for education from early to higher ed, including a path to full-day preschool for every low-income child and full-day kindergarten for all 5-year olds. A surprise for K-12 districts — pension-cost relief — would free up money to spend as they want.

John Fensterwald And Zaidee Stavely

August 31, 2018

California lawmakers pass limits on restraint and seclusion in schools

The bill would also reinstate requirements for schools to collect and report data on student restraint, and ban certain restraint techniques.

Nico Savidge

July 31, 2018

Q&A: Making playgrounds fully accessible for all kids

Olenka Villarreal is the founder and executive director of Magical Bridge Foundation, which creates inclusive playgrounds that everyone can use, including young people with disabilities.

Erin Brownfield

May 3, 2018

African-American students with disabilities suspended at disproportionately high rates

Report finds those students lose substantially more instruction time due to discipline than their white counterparts.

Lee Romney

April 10, 2018

Illuminating science for blind students, with help from latest tech devices

The technology, combined with supportive teachers, has opened the door to science careers.

Carolyn Jones

March 22, 2018

First time superintendent, in just his second year, faces demands to quickly improve student learning

Matthew Duffy said his primary goals are raising student achievement and reducing teacher turnover.

Theresa Harrington

March 8, 2018

Special education funding is a morass; straightening it out may not be cheap or easy

Lawmakers take the first step: discussing the growing needs and disparities in funding.

John Fensterwald

February 14, 2018

With support instead of punishment, a California school district works to improve special education 

County offices of education are working with districts identified for "differentiated assistance" due to poor performance by student subgroups.

Theresa Harrington

January 18, 2018

California lags behind most states in providing timely services to infants and toddlers

A new report recommends the state combine services under one agency to increase equity and reduce delays.

Ashley Hopkinson

January 9, 2018

Gov. Brown proposes ambitious education agenda in his final state budget

Infusion of revenue for K-12 should enable him to finish paying for Local Control Funding Formula ahead of schedule.

John Fensterwald

December 12, 2017

Big changes in requirements to become a special education teacher in California

Special education teachers will again be qualified to teach in general education classrooms.

John Fensterwald

December 7, 2017

The urgent need for a system of support for California schools

In particular, says Carl Cohn, there is a "moral imperative" for California to take on the challenge of more effectively serving students with disabilities

Carl Cohn

December 7, 2017

One in 4 California school districts required to get county help based on new state performance data

The updated California School Dashboard provides extensive data on schools, districts and a dozen student groups.

John Fensterwald

October 11, 2017

Special education in "deep trouble" and still needs reform, says California ed board president

Michael Kirst says the special education system, rooted in concepts and laws that need updating, is battling to recruit and retain fully prepared teachers

Louis Freedberg And Theresa Harrington

August 20, 2017

Dyslexia, once the reading disability that shall not be named, comes into its own in California

New California Dyslexia Guidelines are meant to improve how reading is taught to all students by all teachers, not just reading specialists.

Jane Meredith Adams