GAO Makes 5 Recommendations to Improve DoDEA Special Ed Services
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report titled "Special Education: Improved Allocation of Resources Could Help DOD Education Activity Better Meet Students' Needs." The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) operates schools worldwide, and approximately 15% of its students receive special education services, which mirrors the national average.
The GAO report highlights concerns that service delays and disruptions may negatively impact student performance. To ensure the timely delivery of services, the GAO recommends five actions for the Department of Defense (DoD): (1) revise its staffing formulas to incorporate the minutes of services needed; (2) ensure that paraeducators delivering behavioral supports receive crisis training; (3) provide supplemental training materials to special educators; (4) provide specialized reading interventions for specific disability needs such as dyslexia; and (5) clearly communicate the timeline for releasing updated special education procedures and specify which resources staff should rely on to interpret DoD policy in the meantime.
The DoD partially concurred with each recommendation, providing additional information on its behalf.