DC experiments with differentiated special education program

Washington, DC, Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee plans to establish an experimental program that would offer customized lessons for disabled, regular, and gifted students in the same classroom, a key component of her strategy to reduce exorbitant special education costs. Rhee’s proposal would launch a “differentiated learning” laboratory at West Elementary School in Northwest Washington, then replicate it citywide. Under the proposal, the system would hire a private special-education school to run the program.

Since 2006, the D.C. public schools have been under a federal court order to eliminate a backlog of more than 1,000 decisions from hearing officers regarding placement of students in special education programs. The order stemmed from a consent decree that settled a class-action suit filed by parents protesting the system’s long delay in providing services for the students. Read more about Rhee’s proposal in The Washngton Post online.