By Meena Tadimeti,  @meenatadimeti 

A Statewide Task Force on Special Education (in 2013) was asked to review “why students with disabilities were realizing poor school and postsecondary outcomes, identify the barriers to better performance, and make recommendations for how to change the state’s system of schooling so it would better serve all students.” In essence, the group was calling for an unified education system in which all children, including students with disabilities, are considered general education students first and foremost. (source: San Mateo County Office of Education)

One of the beliefs of the Task Force was that improving part of how we educate students improves education for all.  The Task Force was asked to examine why special education is not more successful and what must be changed in both policy and practice to improve services for all children identified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as having a disability.

The Task Force was made up of parents, general and special education educators, higher education professors, nonpublic schools/agencies, and charter schools as well as liaisons from the State Board of Education, the California Department of Education, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Legislative Analyst Office, the Department of Finance, and California state legislative staff.

Here is the in-depth report of their findings. For an overview of goals of this initiative, click here.

Fast forward to 2017, given the findings, parents what are your thoughts?

Is your child’s school making the grade in increasing opportunities for your child to be included to some degree, if not at all times with their typical peers at school? Why not?

Let’s hear your comments or share on our own Facebook parent group.