Special Education
4 articles
The Unfunded Mandate: Federal Promises, Local Budgets
When Congress passed IDEA, they promised to fund 40% of special education costs. They've never come close. The actual number hovers around 15%.
The Special Education Spending Puzzle
Some California school districts have far more money per student than others, and the spending gap raises more questions about equity than it answers.
How Protecting Special Education Shifted Cuts to General Ed
Special education's share of California school budgets rose through the Great Recession, and that protection shifted the cuts onto general education.'s share of school budgets increased during and after the Great Recession.
The Fiscal Cliff Schools Faced After the Stimulus
When we talk about the Great Recession's impact on schools, we usually focus on 2008 and 2009, when budgets cratered and teachers received pink slips.