Category: Special education

AAPI month spotlight: How one trustee’s own education journey impacts her special ed advocacy

One day while driving her son to school, Julie Chau Diep heard the song “Colors of the Wind,” a classic from the Pocahontas film soundtrack, when one specific lyric moved her to the point of tears. “How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you’ll never know.” Diep, a trustee of the Anaheim Elementary School District, is also president and executive director of the OC Autism Foundation where she oversees a speech therapy clinic, disability advocacy center and community integration program.

Inyo COE receives federal grant to expand distance learning

A federal grant will help rural Inyo County students upgrade classrooms to elevate student learning. The $700,000 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture will support Inyo COE in advancing educational access and equity in local rural and frontier communities by funding the initiative, Inyo LinkEd: Empowering Rural Education Opportunities. 

Addressing special ed teacher shortages requires tailored solutions

Nearly all states and about half of school districts reported special education teacher shortages in 2023–24, but turnover patterns vary, meaning state and district leaders need tailored policy responses that address local conditions rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, according to a recent study from the Brookings Institution.

Data shows trends related to special education dispute resolutions

A recent analysis by the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) shows that while written state complaints and due process complaints increased during the 2023–24 school year, so too did mediation agreement rates. The federal technical assistance center found that the number […]

Improving outcomes for students with disabilities begins with assessment

Despite decades of advocacy, students with disabilities often face significant gaps in educational outcomes. If local educational agencies aim to turn things around for this student group, WestEd experts suggest starting with supportive, coherent and effective assessment systems. An Aug. 14 webinar featured panelists discussing […]

Local data needed to fully assess resources available to students with disabilities

While children with disabilities are entitled to special education services tailored to meet their individual needs, many schools don’t have the resources or staff to meet those needs, which creates inequitable access to services, according to a July 29 report released by the U.S. Government […]

Preparing students with disabilities for the workforce 

San Joaquin County Office of Education has long prepared students with disabilities for jobs that would allow them to lead more independent lives upon graduation, and by overcoming recent obstacles including the COVID-19 pandemic, county officials have developed additional programming that has further benefited students.  […]

Reducing disparities in early intervention access will require more data collection

Sharing federal data about infants and toddlers who are referred, evaluated and found eligible for early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act would assist states in identifying and solving disparities in services, according to a report released Oct. 5 by the U.S. […]