Funding Special Education

Funding Special Education

Funding Special Education

by Karlyn Keller

With the Legislature in session, it is important to stay engaged in discussions and decisions impacting the children we serve.

Chief among these is the need to take a critical look at how schools are funded for serving students with disabilities. To address this issue, the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding was created by House Bill 1525 during the last legislative session. The commission issued a series of recommendations that lawmakers are expected to consider this session.

The state’s special education allocation formula in Chapter 48 of the Texas Education Code has not substantially changed in decades. More money is being spent to serve the total number of students identified for special education due to significant enrollment increases, not because of an increase in additional funding to support each student served. The needs and intensity of services continue to ramp up while funding has remained the

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WIU Ranked on Best Online Master’s in Special Education For 2023

WIU Ranked on Best Online Master’s in Special Education For 2023

WIU Ranked on Best Online Master’s in Special Education For 2023

April 4, 2023


WIU Ranked on Best Online Master’s in Special Education For 2023

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University has been recognized by Online Master’s Degrees as one of the Best Online Master’s Degree Programs in Special Education.

WIU’s Master of Special Education provides students with opportunities and accommodates licensed teachers in both Iowa and Illinois who wish to refocus their teaching goals and earn certification in special education. The program’s curriculum offers two primary tracks, Track I: those with general education certification who wish to also earn special education certification and Track II: those with special education certification who wish to increase their skills through advanced study.

In addition, WIU provides advanced study for those who already possess special education certification and experience. The program provides candidates with opportunities to learn how to design and implement action research in their own classes.

For more information, visit bit.ly/3EX95UM.

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Chico High students train for mini Special Olympics at Chico State | News

Chico High students train for mini Special Olympics at Chico State | News

Dozens of special education Chico High students teamed up with students from Chico State to train for the mini Special Olympics next month.



CHICO, Calif. – Chico High special education students teamed up with Chico State students for a blended physical education class on Wednesday to train for their mini Special Olympics next month.

Dozens of Chico High students paired up with Chico State Kinesiology majors during an Outdoor Education class to climb a rock wall. 







Chico State & Chico High students

Rock wall at Chico State



“It was great,” Physical Education Teaching major Jamie Engel said. “We’ve spent the last couple of weeks going over how to belay and climb safely so it was great to have a class come in and be able to take what we’ve learned and use it today. And it was a great group of students from Chico High and I think they got

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OHS Special Education students create art display about endangered animals

OHS Special Education students create art display about endangered animals

(MURFREESBORO) Fifteen special education students at Oakland High School recently created an art display to culminate their lesson on endangered species.

As part of the lesson, the students first watched several videos on extinct species and endangered animals and marine life. Then they discussed how we can help protect these vulnerable populations. Students also looked at many examples of ocean conservation through art by other high school students from the “Science Without Boarders” website.

The display artists included 15 special education students with varying strengths and abilities making up two Special Education Core Art classes. Art instruction was given by Dr. Perry Louden and assisted by Stan Joslin, Phillips Seals, and Dr. Florence Omachonu.  The display theme, “Disappearing Act” was selected by Crissy Dunn. 

What viewers see in the display is of variety of endangered animals colored with the students’ preferred medium — crayons, markers, watercolors, or colored pencils. Most

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Students for Special Olympics enjoy friendly competitions

Students for Special Olympics enjoy friendly competitions

FAIRFIELD — Claps and cheers for runners echoed across the football field Friday for the third annual 2023 High School Track and Field Special Olympics.

This elementary-school event welcomed students from Special Education classes to a morning of friendly competition at Rodriguez High School football field.

The day started with a pageant of students walking onto the field, followed by the national anthem and a couple of speakers.

Students for Special Olympics enjoy friendly competitions

Sheila McCabe

Sheila McCabe, assistant superintendent of Educational Services, spoke to the attendees about inspiration.

“We hear all the time about stress. It is a challenging time but it is all about the positive attitude that moves you forward through those challenges,” she said. “Today is a day to celebrate these amazing students.”

“This is just for students from Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District,” said Matt Miller, adapted physical education specialist, in a phone interview.

The event pairs special-education students with general-educational partners

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