A unanimous 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel has upheld a lower court ruling favoring Durham Public Schools in a dispute over one student's request for special-needs services. The case hinged on Durham schools’ argument that the student and her mother had not followed proper legal procedures.
Congress is working toward a third major COVID-19 relief bill including provisions tackling economic and education challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a good start, said Terry Stoops, vice president of research and director of education studies at the John Locke Foundation. But more may be needed down the line. Schools across the country...
Second of two parts As North Carolina fights the coronavirus, the General Assembly should take a few simple, smart steps to keep public education on track and the economy afloat, experts say. On March 10, Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Days later, he closed schools...
There’s no good reason to force more people into using a broken system.
Fans of alphabet soup will enjoy the maze of educational jargon that governs students' daily lives.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) epitomizes our cultural view that all children can learn, provided they have access to the right educational tools and resources.
RALEIGH — Schools are dealing with a new challenge this year as they come up with creative ways to instruct special-needs children. Schools have one year left before strict teacher certification standards go into effect under the No Child Left Behind Act. Unless Congress clarifies the definition of “highly qualified” teachers, schools have until July 2, 2006 to train or hire new special-education instructors. Many current teachers who specialize in special ed do not hold certifications to teach the standard curriculum, even though some hold masters degrees. They are not “highly qualified,” according to the federal law.
RALEIGH — Two rival bills under discussion in the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee would get the federal government involved in the debate on higher-education tuition increases. Both bills, however, take different approaches to make college more affordable for students. The Republican plan would call for a College Affordability Index and would give more information to parents and students about college costs. The Democrat plan would also call for an affordability index, however it would punish states that decrease higher-education spending. The bills are part of an effort to reauthorize the Higher Education Act in time for passage of the 2005 fiscal budget.
RALEIGH — By 2013-14, the “No Child Left Behind” Act directs that all students, special education included, achieve proficiency. As data from state-level tests show, special education students are much farther behind in achievement than are their nondisabled counterparts. NC is no exception, although some districts are making progress. In Durham, a concerted effort to identify and correct reading difficulties in the early grades has reversed the trend in special ed. Instead of enrolling more kids every year, Durham’s literacy program has reduced special education enrollment by 100 students annually.
