Breakfast with Arne Duncan. Whither special ed reform?

http://www.joannejacobs.com/2011/03/breakfast-with-arne

Interesting.   I also read Dana Goldstein’s summary of Arne Duncan’s breakfast with bloggers. Wish I’d been there!

If I were, I’d cite the need to reform special education–and the fact that this issue is usually ignored in discussion about education reform. We mention class size, unions, collaboration, etc., etc., etc.,  but ignore a huge chunk of what goes on schools. Special education is the ONLY entitlement program there. It takes up huge amounts of filing cabinets (too much paperwork!) and huge amounts of effort, moneys (about 25% of school budgets)–all in an effort to carry out an adversarial system set up in another era more than 35 years ago. It’s time to get special education to the education reform table.

I’m delighted to report that I will be speaking about this issue here in California for the League of Women Voters. Join the discussion!