Leading for Better Outcomes: 10 Recommendations for Stronger Special Education Systems 

WestEd has spent the past ten years conducting Special Education System Reviews (SESRs) with districts nationwide, examining policy, practice, and outcomes side by side. In this 30-minute session, presenter Tori Ballew shares what the on-the-ground data reveals: the systemic gaps that surface in most districts reviewed and the top 10 recommendations proven to close them.

Session Discussion Topics

• What a decade of Special Education System Reviews reveals about district special education systems and the effect on student outcomes 
• The recurring challenge areas—communication, data, training, collaboration—found in the majority of districts reviewed 
• The top 10 recommendations proven to move the needle, and how to turn them into a real action plan 

Featured Speakers

Tori Ballew leads Special Education System Reviews in partnership with district and site leadership teams. Drawing on a decade of on-the-ground review data, her work helps districts translate findings into practical, sustainable improvements in special education programming, compliance, and outcomes for students with disabilities. She brings a collaborative, systems-focused approach to every partnership.