An Innovative Approach to Special Education

School leaders have a huge role to play when it comes to the success of special education in their schools. Principals can shape how IEP meetings are conducted, ensure specialists are getting what they need, and set the tone for the entire school’s approach to special education. We sat down with folks from the newly formed Lead IDEA Center to discuss this role, and how school leaders can move from simply meeting obligations to truly committing to improving special education.

Abigail Foley, Ed.D., is director of the Lead IDEA Center at the American Institutes for Research.

David Bateman, Ph.D., is co-principal investigator at the Lead IDEA Center.

Lynn Holdheide, M.S., is co-principal investigator at the Lead IDEA Center.

Andy Jacks, Ed.D., is principal at Ellis Elementary School in Manassas, Virginia, and senior fellow at the NAESP Centers for Advancing Leadership.