Special Education
IEPs. Learning disabilities. Inclusion. IDEA. Response to intervention. Gifted education. Explore all EdWeek coverage of special education
A Guide to Special Education Terms
The number of students in special education has increased steadily in the last four decades. Here are some of the common terms used.
- Special Education Can AI Help With Special Ed.? There's Promise—and Reason to Be CautiousSome special education professionals are experimenting with the technology.Special Education Many Students Can Get Special Ed. Until Age 22. What Districts Should DoSchool districts' responsibilities under federal special education law aren't always clear-cut.Special Education How a Mindset Shift Can Help Solve Special Education MisidentificationMany educators face the problem of misidentification of special education students. Here are strategies educators are using to fix it.Special Education Impact of Missed Special Ed. Evaluations Could Echo for YearsThe onset of COVID-19 slowed special education identification. Four years later, a new study hints at the massive scale of the impact.Special Education K-12 Essentials Forum Innovative Approaches to Special EducationJoin this free virtual event to explore innovations in the evolving landscape of special education.Special Education Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table - Special Education: Proven Interventions for Academic SuccessSpecial education should be a launchpad, not a label. Join the conversation on how schools can better support ALL students.Special Education Who's Eligible for Special Education Services? Schools Struggle to Keep UpMany states now require schools to offer special education services to students until they turn 22. Costs and logistics can be daunting.Special Education How to Make Gifted Programs More EquitableExperts discussed new, equitable models for advanced education, moving away from traditional "gifted and talented" programs.Special Education Video Students With Disabilities 'Have Gotten Their Dignity Back' at This High SchoolA state partnership involving 16 schools aims to ensure that students with disabilities spend more of their time in mainstream classrooms.Special Education Video How One School Fosters Belonging for Students With DisabilitiesThe school transformed what has traditionally been a model of exclusion in U.S. education.Special Education Why Special Education Teachers Quit—and What Schools Are Doing About ItStates and districts take creative approaches to retain special education teachers.Special Education Video How Schools Can Use AI to Lighten the Load for Special Education TeachersA look at some of the use cases for AI in special education, and some of the precautions educators should take when incorporating AI.Special Report Special Education: Adapting to Challenging RealitiesExploring how special education services are adapting to unprecedented challenges and opportunities in education, from teacher shortages to technological advancements.Special Education The Pros and Cons of AI in Special EducationAI can make special educators' jobs easier by handling paperwork and serving as an adaptive tool. But there are privacy and other concerns.Special Education From Our Research Center What Happens for High Schoolers Who Need More Than 4 Years?Districts work to serve older students longer than four years to plan for a changing career world.