Giving Compass' Take:

· Chalkbeat talks with Laura Boedeker about the special education reform happening in Chicago Public Schools, the criticism she faces, and her plans for the future.  

· What is the best way to approach special education reform? What are some concerns with the current reform happening in Chicago? 

· Here's how principals influence the success of special education programs. 

Just four months into her role as the powerful independent monitor overseeing efforts to reform special education in Chicago Public Schools, Laura Boedeker already faces angry, public criticism.

The state created the monitor’s office earlier this year after a public inquiry found that Chicago was systematically delaying and denying educational services — guaranteed by federal law — to special-needs students. But on Monday, advocates for special education charged that Boedeker and her superiors at the Illinois State Board of Education have failed on many counts to improve services and to communicate with parents.

At the same time, the advocates released findings of a survey of 800 parents and teachers that backed their charges. The next day, Chicago parents finally received an email from Boedeker and her boss, state board General Counsel Stephanie Jones, that linked to updated special education protocols and parent trainings, and suggested that the state was working on a plan for families who want to file grievances.

In an interview with Chalkbeat on Tuesday afternoon, Boedeker responded to the criticism, described the work she’s done, and outlined what’s ahead.

Read the full article about special education reforms by Adeshina Emmanuel at Chalkbeat.