Nationwide, over 430,000 teachers serve seven million students with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for eligible students with a disability in one or more of 13 categories, and to the greatest extent possible, for inclusion, so that students with disabilities are educated alongside their peers without disabilities. Summer learning opportunities are critical to students with disabilities. Students who qualify for services under IDEA sometimes are also eligible for extended school year (ESY)  programming.


Supporting Students with Disabilities throughout the Year





Also In this Issue

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Ensuring Students with Disabilities Leave School Ready to Succeed

By Kristin K. Liu, Martha L. Thurlow and Sheryl S. Lazarus

State boards can watch policies for red flags that hold students back.





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Debunking Myths about Students with Disabilities

By Karla Phillips-Krivickas

State policy should confront the pervasive low expectations that the outcomes reveal.





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Supporting Students with Disabilities throughout the Year

By Elizabeth Barker and Angela Johnson

The data point up a need for services that extend beyond the school year.





Reenvisioning the Future with Universal Design for Learning

By James D. Basham

Build a system that supports each student rather than a mythical average one.






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Supporting English Learners with Disabilities

By Drew S. Fagan and Luis Javier Pentón Herrera

Equitable education means overcoming challenges in identification, staff training, and funding.





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Understanding Special Education Teacher Shortages

By David Peyton and Kelly Acosta

State policies meaningfully affect recruitment and retention.







Featured Items

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Supporting Principals in the Science of Reading

State boards of education can deepen the impact of their literacy initiatives by ensuring that principals are equipped to implement schoolwide instructional changes.
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Improving Bilingual Education for All Learners

State policymakers can unlock the full benefits of bilingual education by supporting dual language learners from an early age and expanding access for English-only speakers.
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Expanding Access to K-12 High School Work-Based Learning

Several state boards are leveraging graduation requirements, diploma seals, specialized high schools, accountability systems, and aligning with business needs to expand work-based learning opportunities for more students.

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