Extra Worry for Special Need Students When It Comes to Remote Learning

While the pandemic has taken a toll on the learning of every student, those with special needs are enduring further damage to their education according to a recent survey conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR).  

Most districts reported that the coronavirus pandemic made it more difficult to meet the needs of students with disabilities and comply with requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guides special education in public schools. 

For instance:

  • Seventy-three percent of districts said that after COVID-19 hit, it was more difficult to provide appropriate instructional accommodations for students with disabilities, and 82 percent said it was more difficult to provide hands-on accommodations and services.
  • Fifty-seven percent of districts said it was more difficult to engage families for help with the requirements of a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), which outlines the goals for students with disabilities, and the supports and accommodations they should receive to meet those goals.

A report from parents Together this summer reinforces the fact that kids in need of individualized support are also facing major challenges. Just 20% of parents whose children have an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) or are entitled to other special education services say that they are receiving those services. 39% are not receiving any support at all. 

Children who qualify for individual learning plans are also: Twice as likely as their peers to be doing little or no remote learning (35% vs. 17%); Twice as likely to say that distance learning is going poorly (40% vs. 19% for those without IEPs); And almost twice as concerned about their kids’ mental health (40% vs. 23% for those without IEPs).

“This pandemic has turned the cracks in our education system into an abyss that threatens to swallow our most vulnerable kids,” said Justin Ruben, Co-Director of ParentsTogether Action. “As state budgets are slashed, our schools are having to cut programs and teachers at an alarming rate. Without a vast increase in federal funding so our schools can provide vital services, an entire generation of kids are going to be left behind.” 

To address this crisis, ParentsTogether Action is supporting a call by dozens of organizations representing teachers, principals, and parents for at least $175 billion more for K-12 schools. 

For more on the cause to help students with disabilities, click below:

Resources & Tools: COVID-19 – NCLD

Students with Disabilities and Distance Learning | Share My …

What resources are available for special ed students in the middle of the pandemic?

Students with Disabilities Can’t Just Be an Afterthought This Fall

IDEA at 45: How the Pandemic Affects Students With Disabilities

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Commerce media
A Look at the Rise of Commerce Media Networks: How Nift Helps Brands Own How Their Message Shows Up
July 2, 2025

As traditional digital advertising struggles to retain consumer trust, brands are exploring new, more authentic ways to connect with shoppers. Platforms like commerce media networks, which weave together commerce, content, and data, are emerging as powerful tools in this shift. Research from MG2 Advisory reveals that only about 37% of consumers feel brands genuinely…

Read More
Hospitality leadership
Heart-First Hospitality Leadership: How Saying ‘Yes’ Transforms Guest Experiences, Boosts Staff Morale, and Drives Business Results
July 2, 2025

As the hospitality industry emerges from years of pandemic-driven upheaval, hospitality leadership is evolving to meet new challenges. Leaders are looking for new ways to retain staff, elevate guest satisfaction, and drive revenue without burning out their teams. One trend gaining traction is the power of “Yes”: empowering employees to say yes more often,…

Read More
civic leadership
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth’s Civic Leadership Journey: What Politics Teaches About People
July 2, 2025

What does a mayor learn about human nature? In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Gerard Hudspeth, longtime mayor of Denton, Texas, and a respected figure in civic leadership. Drawing from his years in public service, Hudspeth explores how leading a city reveals the core…

Read More
sepsis
Debunking Sepsis Myths – Episode 1
July 1, 2025

In the first episode of The Michael Rothman podcast, we address misconceptions about sepsis in healthcare. Although it’s often claimed that sepsis accounts for nearly a third of hospital deaths, many of these deaths are linked to chronic conditions with sepsis as a secondary factor. The frequently cited statistic that delays in treating sepsis increase…

Read More