Tom Hehir served as director of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs from 1993 to 1999. As director, he was responsible for federal leadership in implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Hehir played a leading role in developing the Clinton administration's proposal for the 1997 reauthorization of the IDEA, 90 percent of which was adopted by Congress. In 1990, he was associate superintendent for the Chicago Public Schools, where he was responsible for special education services and student support services. In this role, he implemented major changes in the special education service delivery system, which enabled Chicago to reach significantly higher levels of compliance with the IDEA and resulted in the eventual removal of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights as overseer. Hehir served in a variety of positions in the Boston Public Schools from 1978 to 1987, including that of director of special education from 1983 to 1987. An advocate for children with disabilities in the education system, he has written on special education, special education in the reform movement, due process, and least restrictive environment issues.

Degrees

• Ed.D., Harvard University

• A-111J   Critical Issues in Special Education Policy and Practice (Winter 2013)
• A-112   Students with Disabilities in School (not offered in 2012-2013)
• A-117   Implementing Inclusive Education (Fall 2012)
• A-129   The Federal Government in the Schools (Spring 2013)

• Leadership
• Learning Disorders
• Reform Issues
• Special Education

An article on Tom Hehir as the recipient of the Martha H. Ziegler Founder's Award

A press release on Thomas Hehir's findings on the effects of "ableism" in education and ways to begin improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities

A commentary by Thomas Hehir about why some methods of assessment treat learning-disabled students unfairly