Deeping the Commitment to Our Editorial Vision and Recognizing Areas for Comprehensive Reform in Special Education

In our first year as editors of Exceptional Children (EC), we shared our vision to advance equitable educational access, participation, and outcomes for children and youth with disabilities by strengthening the capacities of all who serve them. Now, as we enter our second year, we are deepening our commitment to our four core editorial goals: framing special education as a civil rights issue, fostering inclusiveness and diversity throughout the publication process, broadening theoretical and methodological representation, and highlighting the intersectionality of identity among children with disabilities. Our commitment to these goals leads us to an exploration into the kinds of changes that are needed in special education to ensure consistent progress in achieving equity and improving the outcomes for students with disabilities and the educators that work with them. We strongly encourage submissions that align with these goals and continue this exploration. This second issue of Volume 91 showcases these priorities, with articles exploring equity and sustainability across key community members—parents, teachers, and paraprofessionals—and within the broader educational systems that support students with disabilities. Common themes in this issue address challenges, disparities, and urgent needs in special education, including systemic barriers, diversity gaps, retention issues, and the critical need for more effective policy implementation.