Special education improves students' academic trajectories

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act turned 50 last year. Many advocates and politicians heralded the anniversary. At the same time, some observers have been wondering how well the law has succeeded in helping students.A study released Monday sheds new light on this question, offering among the most comprehensive and rigorous answers to date. The findings were strikingly positive. Across three states, access to special education services changed students’ academic trajectories for the better. The gains were “immediate, quite large, and sustained,” says Marcus Winters, lead author of the paper and a professor at Boston University.The results indicate that special education is working to a meaningful extent for many students who are gaining access to additional services. What the study doesn’t answer, however, is whether special education can work even better, considering the significant costs involved.To continue reading, click here.