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Student Wellbeing
Topic

Special Education

One in 10 students receives special education services, which include using different approaches to learning, offering emotional support and providing medical assistance. Learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia (difficulty learning math) represent the largest category of California students in special education – about 45 percent.
February 18, 2020

Special education in California in need of overhaul, researchers say  

Better training for teachers and improved screening of children are among the report’s recommendations.

Carolyn Jones
January 10, 2020

Amid shortages, schools settle for underprepared special education teachers

The number of new special education teachers working without a full credential hit 5,196 in 2017-18 — the highest number in a decade.

Diana Lambert
November 21, 2019

‘Moderate’ funding increase predicted for California schools, community colleges in 2020-21

A recession is still a ways off, says the Legislative Analyst's Office; mandated costs will eat into an estimated $3.4 billion increase.

John Fensterwald
November 8, 2019

California spending over $13 billion annually on special education

A new Legislative Analyst’s Office report is intended to provide a “high level review” for the Legislature as it considers overdue reforms.

Louis Freedberg
October 2, 2019

Identifying developmental delays is target of new California law

The new law requires doctors to screen children enrolled in Medi-Cal for developmental delays three times before they turn 3.

Zaidee Stavely
June 30, 2019

School’s out for summer and my kid will be carrying celery

Promoting understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities can reduce microaggressions, overt discrimination and harmful conflicts.

Sarah Taylor
June 20, 2019

What schools and parents need to know about California’s vaccination law: a quick guide

Proposed changes to California's 2015 vaccination law now being considered in the Legislature would limit medical exemptions.

Jane Meredith Adams And Diana Lambert
June 14, 2019

Pension relief, special education funding highlight Gov. Newsom's budget

Governor goes beyond minimum required under Proposition 98 to absorb $3.1 billion in districts' pension payments and address teacher shortage.

John Fensterwald
May 28, 2019

California governor and lawmakers at odds over new special education funding

Legislators and advocates for students with disabilities praise the big increase that Gov. Newsom proposes for special education but reject his idea for spending it.

John Fensterwald
May 20, 2019

Lawsuit challenges use of restraint, seclusion in California special education school

The guardians of four special education students claim their children were illegally put in restraint holds and secluded.

Diana Lambert
May 20, 2019

California's complex formulas limit options to close funding gap

The solution for schools isn't as simple as passing a new tax, researcher says.

Jennifer Imazeki
May 15, 2019

‘Inconvenient truths’ missing from Oakland report on charter schools

Charter schools did not cause Oakland’s problems and preventing more students from choosing charter schools will not fix them, researchers say.

Robin Lake and Ashley Jochim
May 6, 2019

Oakland Unified committed to fixing fiscal problems, but state must also step up

As district recovers after strike, superintendent calls on state to provide more funding.

Kyla Johnson-Trammell
January 8, 2019

Michael Kirst's parting advice: more teacher and principal training is critical to success of local control

In an exit interview, retiring state board President Michael Kirst urges more attention to professional development for teachers and principals, discusses the need for more school funding, an expanded school database and a new agency focused on children's needs.

John Fensterwald
September 27, 2018

California’s persistent teacher shortage fueled by attrition, high demand, say newly released studies

The teacher shortage has worsened in recent years as state funding for education improved and districts began lowering class sizes and bringing back programs, increasing the demand for teachers, according to new studies.

Diana Lambert