Closing the gap: Improving outcomes for students with disabilities

Too many special education students are at risk of leaving high school unprepared for the future. That’s my conclusion after making a deep dive into their backgrounds and experiences for a national study.

Consider these facts:

• Special education students are half as likely as their peers to take college entrance tests such as the SAT.
• They are less likely to have paid work experience, despite evidence that working during high school relates to whether they can find jobs afterward.
• Their parents are more likely to see challenges on issues such as readiness for college and living independently after high school. (author introduction)