Denied: How Texas Keeps Tens of Thousands of Children Out of Special Education
Investigative Reporting: General News Outlets, Print and Online (Large Staff)
About the Entry
Brian Rosenthal investigated how, and why, unelected state officials devised a system that has kept thousands of students with disabilities out of special education. His reporting triggered both state and federal inquiries, and Texas has since reversed course on its controversial policy.
- How Texas keeps tens of thousands of children out of special education
- Schools push students out of special education to meet state limit
- Mentally ill lose out as special ed declines
- Texas schools shut non-English speakers out of special ed
- Feds order Texas to end special ed benchmark unless state can prove no kid has been denied services
- Texas suspends special education enrollment target
- Angry parents in Houston and Dallas turn out at forums, demanding end to special education target
Entry Credit
- Brian M. Rosenthal, Reporter, Houston Chronicle
Comments from the Judges
“Outstanding reporting. The depth and breadth of reporting was clear in the stories. Brian’s narrative voice was even and powerful, and that made the findings all the more compelling.”
“Great writing, dogged reporting, meticulous data analysis, and presented well online – all the makings for an effective investigative piece in today’s news world. This piece has sent reverberations around the state and nation … lives were affected by this policy, and more lives will be altered by the story’s outcome.”
SEE THE FULL LIST OF 2016 FINALISTS
EWA is grateful to the College Board for its generous support of the 2017 National Awards for Education Reporting.
