Back to School

said. “In the real world, if someone goes into the military or workforce, there’s not an IEP for them.”

Lenwood Gibson Jr., Ph.D., associate professor of special education (Educational and Community Programs) at City University of New York, said that in addition to supporting schoolchildren, special education teachers also help parents.

“Special education teachers communicate directly with parents about how their children are doing,” Gibson said. “Daily communication is sometimes needed. Some teachers use a communication book that goes back and forth between school and home. They also provide quarterly progress reports to parents and act as the liaison between home and school. They can answer parents’ questions and address concerns.”