About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of inclusive classrooms for students with disabilities at a preschool in California.

Children with disabilities at Marie Bauer Early Education Center in Paso Robles are learning alongside peers who do not require special education services. That’s unusual in California, where only 1 in 3 students with disabilities receive their preschool education in classrooms with their peers. EdSource visited the Paso Robles Joint Unified school to talk with teachers, parents, specialists and administrators about why inclusive classrooms are so important for students with disabilities throughout their academic careers — and how they can help school districts financially. Read more from EdSource: Could early education bring down rising costs to serve California students with disabilities? California’s $2.4 billion special education boost addresses critical needs, but challenges remain How the governor’s budget proposal addresses rising numbers of students in special education Special education has become a flash point in negotiations with teachers Roundtable: Special education experts urge California schools to invest in early education amid rising costs Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week’s episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald…

People in this episode

Host: Emma Gallegos

Topics covered

• inclusive education
• disabilities
• preschool education
• California education policy
• special education

Keywords

• inclusive classrooms
• disabilities
• preschool
• California
• special education
• education policy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: EdSource, Paso Robles Joint Unified

Places: Marie Bauer Early Education Center, Paso Robles

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• California’s first transgender school board member is in a deeply red county · July 9, 2026
• Childcare providers struggle as 4-year-olds enroll in TK · June 18, 2026

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