Special Education
On February 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released its investigation findings of the Special School District of St. Louis County, highlighting that the District’s seclusion and restraint practices violate Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. From the investigation: “Missouri parents and guardians entrust their vulnerable children with disabilities to SSD on…
“Suspensions, expulsions, and school-based arrests: These exclusionary and overly punitive disciplinary responses disproportionately impact Black students and have become normalized throughout the nation. In reality, school pushout, or the disciplinary sanction of removing students from the classroom, contravenes the very purpose of public education to prepare children to engage as full citizens in our democratic…
“Half a century ago, Congress “revolutionized” the way children with disabilities are educated in this country. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), every year the public schools must prepare a “written statement” describing where each such child stands educationally, what educational goals she will work toward, and the special education services she will…
In October 2025, the Gault Center convened over three hundred youth defense lawyers and advocates at our annual Youth Defender Leadership Summit. Together, we practiced the cultivation of community in service of building a more just, more liberated, and more human humanity for all children and for us all. This resource captures the shared learnings…
The Center for Democracy & Technology released a report on the current status of AI use in schools and emerging risks. This report covers the interaction of AI with the classroom, students, IEPs, literacy, deepfakes, student activity monitoring, and student privacy. From the report: “Artificial intelligence (AI) has continued to alter the educational experiences of…
From the conclusion” “Conclusion There is no question that the statistical picture of special education is bleak. But after its meeting of stakeholders, interviews with experts, and review of the research, NCD believes that IDEA and other related disability laws, with improved enforcement, can and should benefit at-risk students who are properly referred and served.…
Professor Kris Henning and Rebba Omer authored a law review article on decriminalizing normal adolescent behaviors, race, and disabilities. This article maps a way forward for all system actors in the juvenile legal system to mitigate and buffer against the harms of juvenile legal system involvement for youth with disabilities. Specifically, this article outlines youth…
From the abstract: “This paper explores the inequitable treatment of the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled and Autistic (IDD/A) population in the criminal justice system. Although progress has been made over the past century with understanding the unique needs of this population, they still face challenges at all stages of the criminal justice system. Behavioral, social…
From the introduction: “This is a moment to organize, educate, and mobilize. Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or an advocate, you have a role to play in protecting all students. This action kit is designed to equip educators, parents, and community leaders with the knowledge, resources, and strategies to safeguard immigrant students from the…
This resource is part of the Youth Defender Advocacy Program (YDAP) curriculum, a specialized trial advocacy training program for youth defenders.
In this letter to school officials, the ACLU of Ohio provides guidance in response to the revocation of the “sensitive locations” policy that had previously limited immigration enforcement at schools. The letter provides guidance regarding procedures schools should have in place if immigration agents take enforcement action at schools, the collection of information regarding students’…
Issued by the Maryland State Department of Education, these documents provide, in English and Spanish, guidance regarding student rights, school registration, requests from immigration authorities or law enforcements at schools, training for school personnel, and resources for families.
