Noel Frye was smiling ear to ear. “Me graduate,” she said, recalling her accomplishment.
The 20-year-old received her high school diploma this past spring. Her father, Bob Frye, told USA TODAY College that walking across the stage to accept her diploma as students, friends, family and teachers cheered her on was one of Noel’s proudest accomplishments.
Frye has Down syndrome. She was one of the 6.4 million students ages 3 to 21 in 2012-2013 — the last year numbers are available from the Institute of Education Sciences — enrolled in special education programs. And her success, said her parents, was built on a skilled, caring teacher at her high school.
Cognitive load in modern teaching explains educator overload and why coherent systems are now essential…
Supervision by design improves classroom safety by ensuring clear sightlines and supervision zones in Safer…
K–12 device repair policies must scale without overloading staff or families while protecting student access…
School lockdown procedures protect students and staff during threats while districts strengthen communication, safety protocols,…
Discover how flexible, future-ready school design in 2026 creates adaptable learning environments that support collaboration,…
Student data privacy affects every family. Schools collect sensitive personal information, but many parents don’t…