Schools are struggling to hire special education teachers. Hawaii may have found a fix

The Loop-Delaware organizes free community events for children and teens with disabilities and their families, with the goal of creating a space where attendees can form connections and find structure outside of the school schedule. The events routinely draw about 30 people and parents say they have seen the group make a difference in how their children interact and build relationships with peers.

Super Special Parents, a Massachusetts WhatsApp group geared toward families in the Brazilian immigrant community, provides a virtual space for parents of children with disabilities to get support and guidance in their native language around everything from understanding special education laws to finding housing. The group counts about 500 participating families and nine dedicated volunteers.

The Phoenix School of Discovery is an alternative school designed for students with learning and social challenges, with roughly half of students on an individualized education plan, or IEP. The school prioritizes hands-on learning, has multiple teachers in each classroom, and offers accommodations like sensory-friendly lighting and a space for “quiet lunch” for students who find the traditional cafeteria over-stimulating.

Starting in 2024, local Maine school districts began offering early education services for disabled children, taking over the responsibility from the state's Child Development Services agency. There are now 34 districts providing special education services to about 550 preschool and pre-K students, and educators say the shift is allowing them to begin building relationships with students and their families much earlier.

Batibot Early Learning Center is a progressive daycare center that offers “socialized tuition” based on what families earn, making it easier for lower-income children to access early childhood education. The center enrolls 25 children and prioritizes hands-on support and therapy for children with developmental delays.

Last school year, the Maine Department of Education began offering speech, physical, and occupational therapy to three- to five-year-olds in 17 public school districts, with plans to roll out the services for preschoolers in 34 more. So far, the state has been able to provide services to all eligible students in that age range, totaling more than 400.

Nebraska’s Journey to Inclusion program focused on providing educators with training and resources to help schools keep more students with disabilities in general classrooms rather than separating them in specialized classrooms. Since implementing changes, the state has seen proficiency rates and graduation rates rise among students with disabilities.

Pre-employment transition services are designed to support high school students with documented disabilities by helping them explore potential careers, gain valuable work experience, and develop crucial life skills they’ll need to succeed in the workplace. For one student in Utah, participating in the program helped him secure a job on the path to becoming a mechanic after graduation.

The Graficka Street school uses flexible classroom design, dedicated assistants for children with special needs, participatory school culture, and proactive family outreach to create a more inclusive learning environment. Since inclusive education legislation was passed in 2016, the share of students with disabilities educated in mainstream schools has grown from 65% to 77%, with schools like the Graficka Street elementary school helping increase access.

The Wisdom Hub Nursery and Primary School enrolls students alongside those who are differently-abled, allowing them to learn in the classroom together. The combined classroom approach teaches students to embrace diversity, nurturing an inclusive educational environment where each child can thrive. The Wisdom Hub opened in 2013 and has since seen over 300 children with special needs cross into secondary school.