Special Education

April 19, 2015

Seven charts that put restraint and seclusion in context

Limited data and inconsistent reporting makes it difficult to understand what is happening on the ground.

John Osborn D'Agostino And Jane Meredith Adams

Legislation

March 6, 2015

Task force unveils plan to overhaul special education

The report calls for a greater integration of special education into schools.

February 26, 2015

Report alleges poor academics at for-profit virtual schools

Funds were allegedly collected for students who never participated.

February 19, 2015

California task force urges reform of special education funding

Recommendations also include integrating special and general education.

February 3, 2015

Study finds preschool programs lower special education referrals

Children in state-supported, high-quality early childhood programs were less likely to be placed in special education, according to a study released Tuesday.

January 4, 2015

EdWatch 2015: 10 issues to watch

2015 promises to be a pivotal year for several major reforms in public education, including the continuing rollout of the Common Core State Standards, the state's new school financing and accountability system, and the administration of the online Smarter Balanced assessments.

EdSource staff

Special Education

October 23, 2014

Schools warned on legalities of anti-bullying

Citing an “ever-increasing” number of complaints about the bullying of students with disabilities, the federal government issued a letter this week reminding schools of their legal responsibility to stop such bullying or risk violating federal anti-discrimination laws.

Jane Meredith Adams

Legislation

September 10, 2014

New funding law could raise cost of textbooks

For decades, the state Department of Education has provided free braille and large-print textbooks to visually impaired students. But under the new school finance law, spending authority has shifted from Sacramento to school districts, including the responsibility for choosing and purchasing general education textbooks.

Jane Meredith Adams

Policy & Finance

August 29, 2014

LAO proposes shift in managing state education

Proposing a fundamental change in the way the California Department of Education operates, a report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office Thursday suggested the department move beyond its current focus on federal compliance, an emphasis it said school districts find "increasingly reactive and punitive."