Public school districts must pay for private special education, Supreme Court finds

NPR reports:

In a 6-to-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that school districts could be required to reimburse students who choose special education programs at private schools even if they did not try the public school’s special education offerings first.

Can ‘neuro-enhancing’ drugs give students an advantage?

Note: This is cross-posted with my Cognitive Science Blog.

NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross reports:

In the modern world of busy schedules and busier lives, some people are turning to “neuro-enhancing” drugs to gain a competitive edge.

As journalist Margaret Talbot writes in the April 27 issue of The New Yorker magazine, a variety of students, professors and business people are taking drugs intended for attention deficit disorder, narcolepsy and epilepsy in an effort to enhance brain function and get ahead.

Talbot’s New Yorker article is available online here.

The struggles of autistic college students

The AP reports (via CNN.com) on the struggles of autistic college students:

Many students with Asperger’s or other autism-like disorders face new challenges in a college setting. The syndrome hampers communication and social skills, so along with difficulties staying on top of their studies, these students may struggle with making friends and living more independently. They also may be more reluctant to ask for help.

It’s a problem colleges and universities are “very aware” of as the first big wave of children with diagnosed autism-related disorders moves beyond high school, says Gwendolyn Dungy, executive director of NASPA, a Washington-based organization of student affairs administrators.

“We’ve been very interested in it and finding out how ready colleges are for these students,” she said. “We want to establish a climate for success.”