Students with disabilities faced immense challenges during the pandemic, encountering disruptions in specialized services, heightened anxiety, and remote learning difficulties. These issues have raised concerns about potential legal actions as parents seek additional support to compensate for lost learning opportunities. California's special education system is contending with the aftermath, reporting disruptions in crucial services like speech therapy and struggles in delivering effective online education for students with disabilities. The potential influx of legal cases demanding compensation for missed services could overwhelm already strained systems. To address these concerns, proactive engagement with families, early intervention, and bolstered dispute resolution processes are essential. Legislation such as AB 967 proposes to strengthen these systems, aiming for equity and providing families with avenues for recourse, offering a path towards a more robust and responsive special education system in California post-pandemic.
"Getting Down to Facts" is a new research initiative commissioned by Governor Schwarzenegger's Committee on Education Excellence, state Democratic leaders, and Superintendent Jack O'Connell. Led by Susanna Loeb, a Stanford Graduate School of Education Professor and PACE codirector, this project seeks to explore California's school finance and governance systems. Its objective is to provide comprehensive insights essential for assessing the effectiveness of potential reforms. The initiative addresses three key questions: the current state of school finance and governance, optimizing existing resources for improved student outcomes, and evaluating the need for additional resources to meet educational goals. The studies from this project are expected to be available by January 2007.
Improving Services for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities faced immense challenges during the pandemic, encountering disruptions in specialized services, heightened anxiety, and remote learning difficulties. These issues have raised concerns about potential legal actions as parents seek additional support to compensate for lost learning opportunities. California's special education system is contending with the aftermath, reporting disruptions in crucial services like speech therapy and struggles in delivering effective online education for students with disabilities. The potential influx of legal cases demanding compensation for missed services could overwhelm already strained systems. To address these concerns, proactive engagement with families, early intervention, and bolstered dispute resolution processes are essential. Legislation such as AB 967 proposes to strengthen these systems, aiming for equity and providing families with avenues for recourse, offering a path towards a more robust and responsive special education system in California post-pandemic.
Getting Down to Facts
"Getting Down to Facts" is a new research initiative commissioned by Governor Schwarzenegger's Committee on Education Excellence, state Democratic leaders, and Superintendent Jack O'Connell. Led by Susanna Loeb, a Stanford Graduate School of Education Professor and PACE codirector, this project seeks to explore California's school finance and governance systems. Its objective is to provide comprehensive insights essential for assessing the effectiveness of potential reforms. The initiative addresses three key questions: the current state of school finance and governance, optimizing existing resources for improved student outcomes, and evaluating the need for additional resources to meet educational goals. The studies from this project are expected to be available by January 2007.