Deep Dives: How To Move the Needle on Special Education

There are more than 7 million students with disabilities in the United States, representing a variety of needs and abilities. Schools across the country continue to struggle to meet the needs of students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment possible, and gaps have only grown over the past decade. In today's episode, Jill and Ross are joined by two leading experts to explore this topic: Valerie Williams and Bill Henderson. Valerie Williams serves as the Director of the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. With an extensive background in policy and advocacy for children with disabilities, Valerie brings a wealth of experience in supporting states and districts across the country to help students with disabilities. Bill Henderson is a former school leader in Boston who led one of the most successful inclusive schools in the country, the O'Hearn School. His work in inclusion is nationally recognized. Valerie and Bill join Jill and Ross to discuss the state of special education across the country and how schools can better support students of all abilities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices