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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Luckily, the psychiatric residential treatment facility and special education school in Kansas had a spot open, and Tony started attending in April 2026. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Critics have said the size of the gap stems in large part from Connecticut’s lack of investment in special education, which is meant to reduce those disparities as much as possible. Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 District leaders can require that each department, from school buildings to centralized technology and special education departments, certify their inventory each year and identify any missing assets. Kathryn Blackman, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 That includes an increase in special education staff, offset by a reduction in other staff. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for special education

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of special education was in 1921

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Special education.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20education. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

special education

noun
: classes or instruction designed for students with special educational needs

More from Merriam-Webster on special education

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!