The Education Department is transferring oversight of special education and civil rights to the Justice Department and Health and Human Services, moving closer to President Trump's goal of shutting down the department. Advocates worry this will complicate enforcement and negatively impact students with disabilities.
The Trump administration is moving the Education Department's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to HHS and the Office for Civil Rights to the DOJ, sparking criticism from disability advocates.
Official figures show a 11.6% rise in children with Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs) in England, reaching a record 538,500. Overall, 21% of pupils now have special educational needs, prompting calls for urgent government action amid funding and staffing challenges.
Declining birth rates in England are causing school closures, with nearly 30% of pupils in closed schools having special educational needs (SEN), compared to 20% nationally. This trend disproportionately impacts SEN students, raising concerns about future provision and support.
New Taipei City lawmakers highlighted that the ratio of special education teachers and support staff in the city is below the national average. They urged the city government to increase minimum support hours per student, review teacher and support capacity, and improve assistant salaries and retention.
Special education teachers are increasingly using AI to streamline paperwork, including writing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). This allows them more time for student interaction, potentially improving educational outcomes. While privacy and ethical concerns exist, research suggests AI can enhance IEP quality when used appropriately.
Headteachers warn UK government's special educational needs reforms could fail due to policies prioritizing exam results over inclusion. Concerns include "academic attainment at all costs" and inadequate support for mainstream schools.
The Salmon River Central School District in New York has been ordered to reform after an investigation found that at least five elementary-age students with disabilities were confined in wooden boxes as a timeout method, sparking outrage and comparisons to historical abuses in Native American residential schools.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlines his legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session, including reforms to NHS, education, housing, and immigration, amidst speculation of a potential leadership challenge.
Labour's King's Speech unveils bills to reset EU relations, nationalise British Steel, reform NHS, education, housing, and immigration, amidst potential backlash from Labour MPs on asylum measures.
A special education institute in eastern China that targets “problematic” teenagers has sparked controversy for allowing its students to carry toy dolls throughout the school day as part of gratitude lessons. Yuanzhong Special Education School, located in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, accepts adolescent students who exhibit rebellious behaviour, lack motivation for studying, are addicted to online games, or display a fiery temper and early dating tendencies. Recently, videos of students carrying toy...
The 'Emotional or Behavioral Disorders' (EBD) label in U.S. special education is often subjective and lacks medical diagnosis, disproportionately affecting students of color and potentially limiting their academic and life outcomes.
The 'Emotional or Behavioral Disorders' (EBD) special education label is often applied subjectively, disproportionately affecting students of color and trapping them in restrictive environments that can limit their academic and life outcomes.
A poll indicates that two-fifths of school leaders in England are cutting support for children with special educational needs due to a long-standing financial crisis. Many are reducing teaching assistants and support staff, with further cuts anticipated.
