The COVID-19 pandemic initiated an unprecedented shift in special education practice from brick-and-mortar instruction to online learning. This manuscript explores factors related to the shift and argues the COVID-19 disruption creates an opportunity for systemic educational reform. The Universal Design for Learning framework is presented as a…

Purpose: This study aimed to determine if eligibility for special education and related services (SERS) in New Jersey (NJ) is biased based on a child's racial/ cultural background or socioeconomic status (SES). Method: A Qualtrics survey was administered to NJ child study team personnel including speech-language pathologists, school psychologists,…

This presentation seeks to explore the various complexities of racial and ethnic disproportionality in special education. We discuss the many competing and often contradictory findings in the current literature (Dever et al.,2016; Morgan et al., 2015; Sullivan, 2011; Voulgarides & Thorius, 2017). We briefly discuss the implementation of the…

Given federal mandates, public school districts have adopted inclusive practices with the expectation that general education teachers can accommodate students with disabilities. For teacher preparation programs to prepare future teachers for this reality, it is important to understand the composition of a "typical" general education…

No Child Left Behind (2001) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) has put pressure on all teachers to develop proficient readers. In order to do just this, develop proficient readers, teachers must understand the effects that reading attitude has on reading achievement for all students. Research states that individuals with a…

The improper use of reported restraints has been associated with serious injury and death in both mental health and school settings. However, there is currently no federal legislation that regulates the use of reported restraints in the schools in contrast to health care facilities (e.g., Children's Health Act of 2000). As children with…

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was passed in 1975 in an effort to ensure that children with disabilities were provided with an equitable education when compared to their nondisabled peers. IDEA requires schools throughout the country to educate students with disabilities in the most appropriate setting. Despite this federal law,…

Parent involvement in education has long been viewed as a pathway to increased student achievement. Although much research exists with regard to this topic, little examines this relationship specifically for students with disabilities in grades 1-5 despite being required by both the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with…

The U.S. Congress has mandated that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) produce an annual report to help inform policymakers about the progress of education in the United States. Using data from across the center and from other sources of education data, "The Condition of Education 2015" presents 42 key indicators on…

This comparative case study analyzes the overrepresentation of African American males in special education. The overrepresentation of African American children and youth in special education programs for students with learning disabilities, severe emotional or behavioral disabilities, and mental disabilities has remained a persistent reality, even…

Many preschool children are affected by disabilities requiring intervention through Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE; Camilli, Vargas, Ryan, & Barnett, 2010). Such interventions can include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and special education. Earlier delivery of these special education services…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1975 has made a profound impact on millions of children with disabilities who now enjoy their right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). It is the goal of national policy, endorsed by Congress, to ensure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic…

This brief is a companion to the policy brief entitled, "Discipline Policies, Successful Schools and Racial Justice," which reviewed the research on disciplinary exclusion from school and made several recommendations, including the following three for seeking policy change through legislation: (1) Federal and state policy should require…

In this article, the author examines how school- and district-level racial/ethnic and socioeconomic compositions influence schools' use of different types of criminalized and medicalized school discipline. Using a large data set containing information on over 60,000 schools in over 6,000 districts, the authors uses multilevel modeling and a…

Paraprofessionals are critical school staff often responsible for students with or at risk for academic, behavioral, and social impairments. However, research on paraprofessional roles, professional development, and training needs is very limited. The present mixed-method study seeks to fill this gap by examining the student populations served,…