Results for: Special Education

Diane Hesterhagen, a respected and influential figure in Staten Island Catholic schools, passed away on April 22, surrounded by her family. Throughout her distinguished career, Hesterhagen served as a teacher, principal, and executive director, leaving an enduring legacy in education. Her unwavering dedication to students with disabilities and her advocacy for veterans and police officers made her a beacon of support within the community. Hesterhagen’s love for her family, her passion for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, and her commitment to lifelong learning will forever be cherished by those who knew her.

The Haryana education system faces several challenges, including zero enrollment in 19 government schools and low student strength (below 50) in 3,148 schools. Infrastructure facilities such as integrated science labs, information and communication technology, and skill education labs remain incomplete. High vacancies exist in teacher education institutes, with 49.3% in SCERT and 59.29% in DIETs. The state has also conducted only 6.66% of Children With Special Needs (CWSN) identification camps at the block level in 2023-24. To address these issues, the Secretary of School Education and Learning has suggested rationalization of schools with sufficient teachers and the filling of vacancies in KGBVs and teacher education institutes.

A 14-year-old student with autism and anxiety, who had been out of school for a year, faced a harrowing return to public school in Braintree, Massachusetts. Her first day, marked by severe anxiety and calls for help from her mother, was followed by a chaotic second day that involved police and an ambulance. The student’s family and legal advocates raised concerns about the school’s ability to provide an appropriate and safe environment for her special needs.

Iowa’s legislative session concluded with a focus on special education reforms, tax cuts, and social issues. Key highlights include:
– Revised special education funding, giving schools more flexibility.
– Increased minimum salaries for teachers.
– Restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public universities.
– Expanded maternity leave for low-income Medicaid mothers.
– Enactment of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
– Accelerated income tax cuts and constitutional amendments related to taxation.
– Failure of bills related to gender identity, pesticide liability, and a constitutional amendment on abortion rights.