Is the Bar Too Low for Special Education?

Submitted by Judy Hanning on Thu, 2017-07-27 12:00
A landmark moment in special education is occurring right now, as Endrew F. versus the Douglas School District is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. At issue, whether schools must create an enriching environment for special education children, wherein such students can grow to show progress akin to that of their peers, or whether it is sufficient for schools to foster these children with programs that show at least some measurable improvement.

“Many educators bend over backwards for special education students. This may result in stunting their growth as individuals and intellectuals.”

If the court comes down firmly on the side of Drew and his family, agreeing that the bar for special education must be set high, the issue of who is to pay for this enrichment remains. Making the issues all the more problematic is the fact that Donald Trump pick, and new education secretary, Betsy DeVos, believes that states should be in charge of the rights of special-education students.
And that question could be even harder to navigate under President Donald Trump, whose pick for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, during her Senate confirmation hearing last week said she believes that the rights of special-education students should be decided by the states.
~ The Atlantic

Key Takeaways:

1
Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District is a court case that is currently examining the equality of education between students with special needs and those that do not.
2
The family is fighting to improve the standards in which their child is taught because prior they feel their child was not given an equal education.
3
Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District will define the next age in education as a new Secretary of Education is confirmed.
Read the full article here:
http://www.readingrockets.org/news/bar-too-low-special-education