Julia Métraux writes about the use of the term “special education” in an article for the NCDJ. An independent reporter and graduate student at University of California-Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, Métraux makes an appeal to education reporters to find alternatives, even if school officials continue to use the language, which, she says, reinforces the view that disabled kids’ needs are “special.” Read more
special ed
Arizona special-ed funding goes to schools with fewest students
A new article by Alia Beard Rau for the Arizona Republic explains how Arizona’s system for funding special education unequally benefits different schools.
“It’s a direct result of how the state funds education for students with special needs: Arizona’s spending on special education benefits schools with the fewest number of students who require it.
About one-third of Arizona students attend schools — most of which are charters — that receive more state money to serve students with special needs than those schools actually spend for that purpose.”