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special education
noun
: classes or instruction designed for students with special educational needs
Examples of special education in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More than 1 in 7 public school students between the ages of 3 and 21 received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, during the 2022-23 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
—Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2024
Students receive special education services for a wide variety of disabilities.
—Camille Phillips, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024
The report found children were subjected to similar abuses and the jail failed to provide special education services to 17-year-old boys and girls in custody.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
However, there are good-cause exemptions in place to the recommendation for retention, such as students receiving special education services or multilingual learners who are demonstrating progress on the state language assessment.
—Monica Goldson, Baltimore Sun, 17 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1921, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of special education was
in 1921
Dictionary Entries Near special education
Cite this Entry
“Special education.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20education. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
special education
noun
: classes or instruction designed for students with special educational needs
More from Merriam-Webster on special education
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about special education
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