Special Education News and Noteworthy

Inclusive Educational Practices

Special Education News & Noteworthy is a weekly podcast that breaks down what’s happening in the world of special education—across policy, funding, legal decisions, and community impact. Hosted by Paige Fitzgerald and Kate Magaldi, founders of Inclusive Educational Practices, each episode makes national headlines accessible and actionable for parents, educators, advocates, and anyone who cares about inclusive education.

  1. 3d ago

    October 30, 2026 | Twice-Exceptional Students, Teacher Shortages & Special Education Funding

    This week on Special Education News & Noteworthy, Paige Fitzgerald and Kate Magaldi break down five stories highlighting the challenges, policy decisions, and innovative programs shaping special education. In this episode, we're discussing: Twice-Exceptional Students Special Education Teacher Shortages Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Kansas School Funding Cuts A Student-Run Food Truck in Rhode Island Subscribe to our free Special Education News & Noteworthy newsletter. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow the show and leave us a rating and review. Your support helps more parents, educators, and advocates discover Special Education News & Noteworthy. Thanks for listening, and Happy Halloween!

  2. Oct 26 ·  Bonus

    IDEA Services for Private-School Students: John Elcesser and Steve Perla on California’s Corrective Action

    A new federal decision is requiring the California Department of Education to take statewide corrective action involving IDEA services for children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private schools. In this special episode of Special Education News & Noteworthy, Paige Fitzgerald and Kate Magaldi speak with ADAC Advocacy Executive Director John Elcesser and Board President Steve Perla about the complaints that led to the decision and what the U.S. Department of Education found. The conversation explores: What “timely and meaningful consultation” should look like How RTI and MTSS were reportedly used to delay evaluations Why accurate child-find data affects IDEA proportionate-share funding How equitable-services funds are controlled and used What California must now do to correct the identified problems What this decision could mean for other states Learn more about the federal decision and access related materials provided by ADAC Advocacy

  3. Oct 23

    October 23, 2026 | School Safety, Disability Rights & Special Education Funding

    This week on Special Education News & Noteworthy, Paige Fitzgerald and Kate Magaldi break down five stories shaping the special education landscape. In this episode, we're discussing: School safety and disability stigma Federal disability guidance and transition planning Potential special education funding cuts in Nebraska Corporal punishment and students with disabilities New York City's billion-dollar special education reimbursement costs Plus, we share what's waiting for you in this week's free newsletter, including five questions parents can ask to make sure their child's school emergency plan addresses their individual needs. Subscribe to our free newsletter. Read this week's issue here If you enjoy the podcast, please follow the show and leave us a rating and review. Your support helps more parents, educators, and advocates discover Special Education News & Noteworthy. Thanks for listening!

  4. Oct 16

    October 16, 2026 | Head Start Changes, Special Education Homeschooling & Parent Advocacy

    This week on Special Education News & Noteworthy, Paige Fitzgerald and Kate Magaldi break down five stories shaping the special education landscape. In this episode, we're discussing: Proposed Head Start changes Parents finding community Homeschooling and unmet needsWhat's working in special educationA student-run coffee shop Plus, we share what's waiting for you in this week's free newsletter, including a guide to starting a SEPTA in your district. Subscribe to our free newsletter. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow the show and leave us a rating and review. Your support helps more parents, educators, and advocates discover Special Education News & Noteworthy. Thanks for listening!

  5. Oct 12 ·  Bonus

    100 Voices on Special Education | Voice #5: Melissa Cleveland – Preparing Students for Life After School

    Are we preparing students to graduate or preparing them for the lives they'll lead after school? In Voice #5 of 100 Voices on Special Education, Paige Fitzgerald sits down with Melissa Cleveland, a special education transition professional with more than 20 years of experience helping students prepare for adulthood. Referred to the series by Rachel Souza, Melissa brings a unique perspective to the conversation. She works with transition-age students in the school system while also serving as a support broker for adults and families navigating Maryland's developmental disability services. She sees both the preparation happening in schools and the realities families face once those school-based supports end. Together, Paige and Melissa explore: Why meaningful career exploration should begin long before graduation The importance of teaching independence, flexibility, and self-advocacy early What happens when students encounter the "services cliff" after leaving school How self-directed services can create greater choice and control in adulthood Why honoring a student's "no" is an essential part of self-advocacy The work-based learning program Melissa helped develop—and what its eventual loss reveals about the sustainability of innovative school programs Why schools need to look beyond graduation rates and examine what happens to students years after they leave Throughout the conversation, Melissa challenges educators and families to rethink what successful transition planning really means. Her message is simple but powerful: We need to put the "I" back in the IEP. And when asked who should be the next voice in the series, Melissa introduces us to two perspectives we haven't heard yet—one from a former school principal and parent of an adult with a disability, and another from a police officer working at the intersection of disability, community safety, and law enforcement. In this ongoing interview series from Special Education News & Noteworthy, each guest recommends someone they believe should be heard next, creating a growing network of perspectives from across the special education community. Follow Special Education News & Noteworthy wherever you listen to podcasts to discover where the next voice takes us.

  6. Oct 9

    October 9, 2026 | Civil Rights Disparities, Special Education Staffing & IEP Implementation

    This week on Special Education News & Noteworthy, Paige Fitzgerald and Kate Magaldi break down five stories shaping special education across the country. This week's stories: Federal civil rights data reveal disparities affecting students with disabilities. Bipartisan House resolution reaffirms Olmstead disability integration rights. Illinois nonprofit trains parent volunteers to become paraprofessionals. Tennessee district introduces a five-year special education improvement plan. New York student misses school amid shortages of IEP-required support staff. 📰 Get the full stories, our Special Education Insight on compensatory education, and our Picks of the Week in the free newsletter: Follow Special Education News & Noteworthy for weekly updates, and share this episode with a parent, educator, or advocate who wants to stay informed.

  7. Oct 2

    October 2, 2026 | Civil Rights Enforcement, Disability Integration & Early Childhood Special Education

    This week on Special Education News & Noteworthy, we break down five important developments affecting students with disabilities, families, educators, and advocates across the country. In this episode, we discuss: ⚖️ Civil Rights Enforcement: Cuts and restructuring at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights have left families facing questions about complaint processing and federal disability-rights enforcement. ♿ Disability Integration: The federal government has reversed its position on longstanding Section 504 integration regulations, raising questions about how the right of people with disabilities to live and receive services in integrated settings will be enforced. 🏫 Private School & Disability Rights: A Las Vegas family is suing to keep their autistic son enrolled in a private school’s disability program after a dispute involving his schedule and a proposed behavioral plan addressing stimming. 📊 Special Education Capacity: A New Jersey district says students receiving special education now make up about 20% of its population—and is highlighting why enrollment numbers alone don’t capture the staffing, space, and resources districts need. 🧸 Early Childhood Special Education: Texas has released a new four-year plan focused on helping families navigate early childhood supports, strengthening the workforce, and improving the transition into public-school special education. 📧 Want more than just the headlines? Subscribe to the Special Education News & Noteworthy newsletter for: In-depth analysis of this week’s storiesOur Special Education Insight of the WeekOur Picks of the Week, featuring resources, products, and organizations worth knowing about ⭐ If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to follow the show and leave us a five-star rating. Your support helps more families, educators, and advocates discover Special Education News & Noteworthy.

  8. Sep 18

    September 18, 2026 | Federal Special Ed Changes, Placement Shortages & Rising Due Process Cases

    This week on Special Education News & Noteworthy, we break down five important developments affecting students with disabilities, families, educators, and advocates across the country. In this episode, we discuss: 🏛️ Federal Special Education Leadership Changes 📊 New Federal Civil Rights Data 📹 Cameras in Special Education Classrooms in California 🏫 A Shortage of Specialized Placements ⚖️ Special Education Due Process Cases Rise in Georgia As always, we break down what these developments could mean for students with disabilities and the families, educators, and advocates supporting them. 📧 Want more than just the headlines? Our free weekly newsletter includes: In-depth analysis of each storyOur Special Education Insight of the WeekPractical resources in our Picks of the WeekSign up for Special Education News & Noteworthy ⭐ If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to follow the show and leave us a five-star rating. Your support helps more families, educators, and advocates discover Special Education News & Noteworthy.

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Special Education News & Noteworthy is a weekly podcast that breaks down what’s happening in the world of special education—across policy, funding, legal decisions, and community impact. Hosted by Paige Fitzgerald and Kate Magaldi, founders of Inclusive Educational Practices, each episode makes national headlines accessible and actionable for parents, educators, advocates, and anyone who cares about inclusive education.

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