
The Special Education Director's CASE
You will find here a variety of links, resources, legal cases, OSEP/OSERS updates, coaching materials, etc. to support you in your daily work as a special education director. Your CASE (Centralized Assets of Special Education) will provide you with all of the information, updates, and tools necessary to successfully navigate the daily challenges of special education.
The list of resources is ever-growing and changing! Come back often to see everything new that is added.
Search Special Education Leadership Jobs Nationally & By State
TRENDING SPED NEWS AND ARTICLES
-
Oregon Lawmakers Face Pressure to Boost Special Education Funding
Special education advocates in Oregon are calling for increased funding to better serve students with disabilities. As districts across the state continue to face budget constraints, many schools are struggling to provide adequate services.
-
Revolutionizing Special Education: How IEP Companion Transforms IEP Development
This game-changing innovation is designed to reduce teacher workload, improve compliance, and ensure every student gets the individualized support they need.
-
Luton’s New Inclusive Playground: A Model for Accessible Play
Luton has taken a significant step forward in inclusive education and accessible play with the unveiling of a brand-new inclusive playground.
-
How Special Education Staff Cuts Will Impact Teachers and Schools
The U.S. Department of Education has announced significant staffing cuts within its special education division, eliminating nearly half of the positions responsible for overseeing compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
-
Special education enrollment climbs to nearly 8M
Data suggests the number of students with disabilities between ages 3-21 could jump by about 1 million between 2021 and 2025 if current trends hold.
-
Educators and Parents Call on WA Lawmakers to up School Funding
Hundreds of Washington students, parents, teachers and other educators demonstrated at the state Capitol on Monday, calling for increased funding for the state’s public school system.
-
Students With Disabilities Are Entitled To Job Training. Many Don’t Get It
There’s a half-billion-dollar federal program that is supposed to help students with disabilities get into the workforce when they leave high school, but most parents — and even some school officials — don’t know it exists.
-
Dept. of Education cancels grant program, affecting 185 students at St. Thomas pursuing careers in special ed
The university’s president Rob Vischer said Friday night the school received an email from the U.S. Department of Education that explained how a grant program that awarded the university $6.8 million was being cancelled.
-
Special Ed Students, English Learners Face Greatest Setbacks
'Too slow, too uneven:' Pandemic recovery particularly challenging for the growing number of students with disabilities and those learning English.
-
Austin ISD faces financial strain with outsourced special education services
Bringing those services in-house could save the district a lot of money, but the transition will be expensive.
-
Hopkins students raise money to build fully accessible playground
The Hopkins students shattered their initial $35,000 goal for a merry go round. Now, they want to redo the entire playground, which is nearly a million dollar venture.
-
Special ed students benefit from being integrated at school. It doesn't always happen
"Study after study is showing that there's no harm to being included, but there's great risks of harm to being segregated," says Jennifer Kurth, a professor of special education at the University of Kansas.
-
Portland school district files suit against parents over special education reimbursement
Portland Public Schools is appealing a state decision that it failed to timely evaluate a student for special education eligibility and ordered the district to pay for private education.
-
How a staffing shortage can make special education jobs more dangerous
A Pennsylvania study published in 2014 found special educators were nearly three times as likely as general educators to be physically assaulted by students.
-
Benefits of inclusion: Success stories from a Special Education teacher
Students with low incidence disabilities have a long history of being excluded from their peers in educational settings.
-
The special educational needs crisis affects all our children
We will not solve our special educational needs crisis until we solve our education system crisis more widely.
-
OSERS and OESE Offer Joint Guidance for Use of FBAs
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) have jointly released guidance on the use of functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) for all students whose behavior interferes with learning.
-
One-time Stipends to Be Given to Oregon Special Education Teachers and Paraeducators
Oregon will divide $8.9 million dollars among the state’s special education teachers, paraeducators and other staff members as one-time bonuses meant to help address the field’s alarming recruitment and retention problems.
-
Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter Provides Updated AT Device Guidance
Earlier this year, the United States Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague Letter that specifically addressed special needs students who require assistive technology in order to receive equitable educational opportunities.
-
A Nationwide Struggle to Fill Special Ed Teaching Vacancies
Schools struggled to fill teaching positions — especially those focused on serving students with disabilities — even as classes got underway this fall, data shows.
-
How much does your school district spend on special education per student?
Special education is consuming a rising share of Washington’s public education budget.
-
What Educators Should Know About Dyscalculia, a Math Learning Disability
In this interview series, an educator, a researcher, and two students with dyscalculia share their insights, perspective, and knowledge to help teachers better understand and teach students with the disability.
-
Are Schools and Edtech Companies Ready for the Digital Accessibility Deadline?
In April, the U.S. Department of Justice published its final rule for web and mobile accessibility.
-
How Stamford Schools and Sacred Heart University aim to solve the special education teacher shortage
-
Nation's First Clinic Dedicated to Non-Verbal Learning Disorder
Yeshiva University's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology launches first-of-its-kind NVLD clinic
-
Why children with disabilities are missing school and losing skills
-
How does a child qualify for an IEP? What you need to know about the disability categories recognized under IDEA
-
New Minnesota law limits districts’ ability to hire special education teachers without training
-
Center on PBIS
These free videos and presentations provide educators with comprehensive and expansive knowledge on Behavior, SEL, Mental Health, PBIS, and MTSS Training to enhance their students learning in the classroom every day!
-
Has Inclusion Gone Too Far?
Weighing its effects on students with disabilities, their peers, and teachers
-
The Better Question: How Can We Improve Inclusive Education?
This article is in response to the article "Has Inclusion Gone too Far?"
-
Sunflower Bakery- Caring is our Main Ingredient
-
5 Tips to Help Students With Disabilities Feel Like They Belong
-
Where are All the Special Educators?
-
Wigglewow Employing Epic Chefs
-
Recommendations and Resources for Preparing Educators in the Endrew Era
-
Many Students Don’t Inform Their Colleges About Their Disability. That Needs to Change.
-
Coffee shop hires baristas of all abilities
-
U.S. Department of Education Awards More Than $1 Million in Grants to Develop Evidence-Based Models of Family Engagement and Improve Services to Children with Disabilities
-
OSERS Most Recent Blogs on Trending Special Education Topics


Dr. Mitch Yell’s Sped Law Corner
Dr. Mitch Yell, PhD, is the Fred and Francis Lester Palmetto Chair of teacher education and a professor in Programs in Special Education at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Yell is a nationally recognized expert in special education law and IEP development. His textbook entitled The Law and Special Education, published by Pearson, is now in its fifth edition. He is the editor and writer of a special issue of Teaching Exceptional Children titled IEPs: Policy and Practice, and co-author of a forthcoming book on developing IEPs, published by Roman Littlefield. Dr. Yell has published 130 articles and 36 book chapters. He has also been awarded $17 million in federal grants.
Dr. David Bateman and Dr. Mitch Yell write a bi-weekly blog on trending legal matters and cases which impact the legal requirements of educating kids with IEPs.
Check Out Dr. Mitch Yell’s Books
SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW
-
New York Senator Pushes Bill to Protect Special Education Programs
In a significant move for special education advocacy, New York Senator John Mannion has introduced his first bill aimed at preventing any future administration from dismantling federally funded special education programs.
-
A Win for Connecticut Schools: Increased Special Education Funding
In a significant win for Connecticut’s educators and school districts, Governor Ned Lamont recently signed a $40 million special education funding bill into law. This investment aims to ease the financial strain on school systems while ensuring that students with disabilities receive the support they need.
-
Texas v. Becerra: A Landmark Case Challenging Section 504 Protections for Students with Disabilities
In a groundbreaking legal development, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
-
Operation Education: Mom files special education complaint against South Bend Schools
Indiana Special Education law public school districts must make special education services available to students with disabilities – even students who attend non-public schools. The laws are complex and confusing.
-
New Supreme Court Case: A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools
A.J.T., the petitioner, is a student with epilepsy that impacts her ability to attend school during standard hours. While her previous school district in Kentucky provided accommodations, including evening home instruction, her new district in Minnesota, Osseo Area Schools, refused to extend the same accommodations.
-
2024 Trends in Dispute Resolution
The 2024 Trends in Dispute Resolution report indicates a significant rise in written state complaints and mediation requests under IDEA for the 2022-23 school year, with a notable shift towards early conflict resolution strategies to reduce reliance on adversarial processes.
-
Minnesota to invest $10 million in special education
Gov. Tim Walz announced that the state will invest $10 million to support and train special education teachers in over 35 districts.
-
Feds end special education monitoring in Virginia as advocates question post-review process
After a year-long review of the Virginia Department of Education, which failed to meet federal requirements to support students with disabilities, the federal government’s watchdog for special education programs wrote in a letter that all of its findings and required actions for VDOE are now closed, although questions by education advocates linger.
-
Wisconsin superintendent calls on Legislature to increase special education funding
Wisconsin superintendent calls on Legislature to increase special education funding.
-
Senate Bill 3606 Extends Reimbursement Eligibility for Public Special Education Programs
On May 23, 2024, Senate Bill 3606 (“SB 3606”) passed both houses. If signed into law by Governor Pritzker, SB 3606 will amend the Children with Disabilities Article of the Illinois School Code.
-
Supreme Court Special Ed Decision Leaves Questions Unanswered
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees “free appropriate public education” to students with disabilities. The definition of “appropriate,” however, was at issue.
-
More Than $17 Million Awarded for 78 Personnel Preparation and Professional Development-Related Grants
-
WISD Special Education Millage
On November 5, 2024, voters will be asked to consider renewing a Washtenaw Intermediate School District Special Education Millage.
-
Microschools as an Option for Students With Disabilities
-
California law shuns ‘emotional disturbance’ term in special education
-
Education Department approves all requests to extend ESSER spending deadlines
-
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention and Part C Programs
-
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention and Part C Programs
-
2024 State Implementation IDEA Determination Letters
-
Cellphone Ban, More Pay, ‘Disruptive Students’: New State Laws Address Teacher Priorities
-
Special Education Case-by-Case Legal Monthly Update with Perry Zirkel
-
Special Education Legal Update with Dr. Mitch Yell, Dr. David Bateman, and Dr. Kurt Hulett
-
OSEP Fast Facts — Comprehensive Sets of Data, Statistics, and Facts about Special Education
-
2023 Determination Letters on State Implementation of IDEA
See how the US DOE evaluates each state with regards to the implementation of IDEA
-
WrightsLaw
Special Education Case Law, Legal Opinions, Analysis, Guidance, and Trending Updates
RESOURCES FOR NAVIGATING SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
-
Classroom Champions Toolkits: Energizing Special Education Classrooms for Free
Classroom Champions' free toolkits provide a game-changing solution by integrating social-emotional learning (SEL), leadership skills, and goal-setting strategies into daily instruction.
-
Newsela: A Powerful Free Resource for Special Education Classrooms
Special education teachers face the challenge of meeting diverse learning needs while keeping students engaged. Newsela, an innovative online platform, provides a solution by offering thousands of articles that can be adjusted to different reading levels.
-
Education.com: Enhance Learning with Special Education Games
These interactive, fun, and educational games are designed to help students with various disabilities improve their academic skills, including reading, math, and social skills, while providing them with a positive, inclusive learning experience.
-
National Center on Intensive Intervention: Sample Lessons Toolkit
The National Center on Intensive Interventions (NCII) has developed a collection of Sample Lessons and Activities in reading, mathematics, and behavior and a collection of videos to assist special education teachers, interventionists and others working with students with intensive needs.
-
Texas SPED Support: Autism Toolkit
Texas SPED Support presents this comprehensive toolkit, thoughtfully designed to empower teachers with valuable resources, essential documents, and engaging activities tailored for students with autism.
-
Bookshare
Bookshare is an ebook library that makes reading easier. Members can access a huge collection of ebooks and read their way with the most customizable ebooks for people with reading barriers.
-
EdWeek: Top School Jobs
This database of resources is for educators and directors to easily find jobs based on their state.
-
CEC Exceptional Teacher Resource Repository
This database of resources is for CEC members to find expert-reviewed resources created by your peers that you can use in your own classroom.
-
BrainPOP Educators
Discover lesson plans, video tips, printables, and more! Click a BrainPOP product or resource to get started. Every topic and game has a unique matching collection of teacher support materials, from lesson plans and teaching tips to printables and support videos. No account required.
-
The National Center on Intensive Intervention
The National Center on Intensive Intervention is intended to help educators and other building-based personnel find tools and resources to support students with intensive needs, including students with disabilities and those who have not responded to validated intervention programs delivered with fidelity.
-
Behavioral Support Resources
The Office of Special Education Program’s (OSEP’s) Technical Assistance Centers have resources to guide the development, support and regular use of evidence-based practices to ensure infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities have a positive school year.
-
The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP)
The DCMP, funded by the Department of Education, provides services designed to support and improve the academic achievement of students with disabilities.
-
Intervention Central
Intervention Central provides teachers, schools and districts with free resources to help struggling learners and implement Response to Intervention and attain the Common Core State Standards.
-
These free websites provide educators with online access to open educational resources
lesson plans, teaching activities, timelines, diagrams, videos, frameworks for developing curricula and more
-
AI’s Potential in Special Education: What Teachers and Parents Think
-
SPEDTex
Resources that can help you understand your child’s disability, your rights, and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and facilitate collaboration that supports the development and delivery of services to children with disabilities in our state.
-
Sample Lessons from the National Center for Intensive Intervention
-
Special Education Discipline Resources, Q and A, Strategies, Guidance, and Tools!
-
Comprehensive and Expansive Source of Free Behavior, SEL, Mental Health, PBIS, and MTSS Training Videos and Presentations!
-
New Tools and Resources for Transition Supports, Career Readiness, and Post Secondary Education Training and Programming