Field notes from the work of special education.
Honest writing from the team at the Lab â what we are seeing across districts, what the research is telling us, and what we are doing about it. Read by directors, building leaders, coaches, and the teachers they support.
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From Dr. Harding & Dr. Grimwood
Original research and field analysis from the team. Practitioner-led, peer-informed, written for the people doing the work.
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It is not really about cell phones: how one word swallows IEP protection.
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The SDI Gap: why special education's core practice is failing teachers and students.
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Special Education Leadership Competencies: a practitioner-built map.
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2035: the year special education collapses if we do not act now.
Ask the Lab.
Drop in on a live call. Write us a question. We answer the things directors and teachers actually want to know â out loud, on the record, no compliance talk.
All prior posts from the team.
Special Education Leadership Competencies
The competency map that defines what special education leaders actually need to know and be able to do, built from the research and from the field.
Where are all the teachers? And how do I manage this crisis as a leader?
The teacher shortage is not a recruitment problem. It is a retention problem. And the leaders who understand that distinction are the ones building systems that actually hold.
Special Education Leadership Training Gaps
Directors are promoted into roles they were never formally prepared for. This post names the specific gaps and what districts can do about them before the next leader walks out the door.
Why Is Special Education Leadership So Challenging Right Now?
It is not just your district. The conditions that make special education leadership so difficult in 2025 are structural, not personal. Here is what is actually happening and why it matters for how you lead.
You Already Know What Special Education Leadership Needs
Special education leaders are navigating unprecedented change. The support systems you are already imagining are exactly what the field needs now.
2035: The Year Special Education Collapses If We Do Not Act Now
What happens if special education systems do not change? Data-driven projections for 2035 and why district leaders must act now to prevent system collapse.
The SDI Gap: Why Special Education's Core Practice Is Failing Teachers and Students
Specially designed instruction knowledge gaps drive special education teacher turnover, and what district leaders must do now to protect FAPE delivery.
The Perfect Storm: Why Special Education Leadership Has Never Been More Critical or More Vulnerable
Department of Education restructuring and special education leadership shortages in 2025 are impacting IDEA compliance, teacher retention, and students' access to FAPE nationwide.
Instructional Leadership Development in 2025: Why Now?
Federal uncertainty is reshaping K-12 education, but one thing remains constant: great teaching happens because of great coaching. New research shows job-embedded coaching is the number-one retention tool.
New Teachers and Specially Designed Instruction: Our Next Crisis
New special education teachers struggle with specially designed instruction implementation. Research reveals critical preparation gaps affecting 7.5 million students with disabilities.
Special Education at Risk: 2025 Federal Restructuring
Federal special education support is collapsing. OSEP gutted. Technical assistance disappearing. Districts are on their own. What smart leaders are doing now.
Why Virtual Coaching Fails Without Strategic Implementation Support
Virtual coaching fails without implementation support. How a tiered framework transforms technology investment into measurable teacher growth and student achievement.
Transforming Education Through AI-Enhanced Instructional Coaching
AI is reshaping what instructional coaching can look like at scale. What that means for special education leaders trying to develop educators faster and more effectively than traditional models allow.
What does our discipline data say about our beliefs and values in education?
11 million instructional days are lost annually due to suspensions and expulsions. What that data says about what we actually believe about students â and what to do differently.
Leadership Is Everyone's Responsibility: Shaping School Culture Through Action
Leadership is lived, not assigned. The culture we create is a mirror reflecting our actions. The choices we make every day shape the environment where everyone can truly thrive.
Beyond the Spotlight: Rethinking Leadership, Influence, and Legacy
Extroverted leaders inspire in the spotlight. Introverted leaders build trust quietly behind the scenes. The real difference? Follow-through. How personality and consistent action shape lasting impact.
How Belonging Transforms School Culture: Imagine a Future Where Everyone Thrives
Belonging is not a soft goal. It is the precondition for everything else. What it actually looks like to build a school culture where every person walks in feeling like they matter.
Why Your Leadership Matters Now More Than Ever
The conditions special education leaders are navigating right now are unlike anything most of us have seen. Here is why what you do next matters more than it ever has.
From Research to Results: Why Evidence-Based Professional Development Matters for Your District
Not all professional development is created equal. What the research actually says about what moves the needle for educators â and what districts should stop spending money on.
If something here matched what you've been seeing â let's talk.
We work with districts, cooperatives, and individual leaders who are tired of generic professional development and ready for something built specifically for this work. Initial consultations are direct, honest, and free.