Let’s Re-Imagine Special Education Together

All Children Deserve To Feel Included

Educators

Administrators

Support-Staff

Nice to meet you!  I’m Arielle and I’m an Inclusive Education Consultant. I’ve spent the past 10 years immersed in all things Special Education…from teaching, to leadership, and most recently, navigating the IEP process from the parent side for my 5 year old stepson.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Columbia University. I am also licensed to teach general education and special education in California.

I grew up in New Jersey, but always dreamed of living in California.  As soon as I graduated college, I moved out to the west coast, and within a few weeks, I accepted my first job, as a Special Education Teacher in Los Angeles.  

Over the past decade, I have been fortunate to have had a variety of teaching and leadership experiences in the special education space. My passion for full inclusion has driven my work in each of them.  

Growing up and student teaching on the east coast, inclusion and co-teaching were all that I knew.  As a child, I was often assigned to a classroom that had 2 teachers (and I always felt lucky when I was)!  What child wouldn’t want 2 teachers to build relationships with and to learn from?

In California though, I quickly learned that fully inclusive, and co-taught classrooms were not the norm (and a decade later, continue to not be). 

Hi! I’m Arielle Starkman

My mission is to transform the special education space and narrow the social and academic gaps that exist between students with disabilities and their typically developing peers, by providing innovative solutions to school teams that equip and enable them to support ALL STUDENTS.

  • Inclusion in education implies that all students, whether they have an identified disability or not, learn and socialize side by side, in the same classroom.

    In an inclusive special education service delivery model, general education teachers and special education teachers work together to meet the needs of ALL of the students in their shared classroom. They recognize that ALL students have different learning styles and ways they learn best, not just students with disabilities.

  • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - IDEA - Sec. 300.114 states that:

    “Each public agency must ensure that—

    (i) To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are nondisabled; and

    (ii) Special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.”

  • Each year, states report the number of their students with disabilities that participate inside the regular class setting for 80% or more of the school day to the federal government.

    In 2020, the State of California reported that just 59.47% of its students with disabilities were included for 80% or more of the school day.

    As an Inclusive Education Consultant, I support administrators, teachers, and support staff in strengthening systems and practices that have historically hindered the inclusion of students with complex learning needs.

  • "Arielle Starkman’s support is invaluable. Her modified materials, knowledge, and insight have generated major gains for our students with complex needs in their learning, behavior, and overall well being. Her advocacy, passion, and positivity for inclusion have assisted my school in embracing inclusion and have assisted us all in better serving our students."

    Stephen E, Principal

  • "Arielle is the best inclusive education consultant I have ever worked with. Her passion for student inclusion and modified grade level curriculum is palpable. She is professional, insightful, creative, supportive, and an incredible team player."

    Deborah N, Assistive Technology Consultant

  • “Arielle Starkman was the missing piece in our journey towards fostering an inclusive learning environment for our students. Arielle's knowledge and expertise in the area of inclusion helped our team develop learning experiences tailored to meet our students' unique needs. The modified assignments she was able to create helped provide our students with the opportunity to better access the general curriculum. Her collaborative nature made her very easy to work with. Arielle would be an asset to any team that seeks to provide students with an equitable education.”

    Saira H, Special Education Teacher

  • “I have had the pleasure of working with Arielle Starkman this past school year. Each week I would give my unit of studies & standards I was planning to teach the following week. Arielle would create standards based materials for my student who was able to complete the assignments in class alongside his gen ed peers. Arielle modified all materials to the appropriate level of my student, including class and homework assignments, projects, and assessments. My student was fully included in all aspects of my fifth grade classroom. Her communication, professionalism, & engaging materials kept the year running smoothly for my student. Working with Arielle was an amazing experience, and she was such a valuable resource for our team!”

    Katie R, General Education Teacher

Arielle’s Resource Library

Check out my 'toolkit' of research based tools for supporting students with disabilities in inclusive settings. 

WORK WITH ARIELLE STARKMAN

Inclusive Education Consulting For Educators, Administrators & Support Staff