Can the word "special" have a negative connotation?
"Special education" is the usual U.S. term for the department of a public school that works with children with severe learning or mental disabilities. The term uses the word "special" in its original definition of "unique" or "different", as a euphemism to replace terms used previously such as "slow class" or "MR class".

What is the proper usage of the phrase "due diligence"?
A lawyer referring to the process of investigating a potential merger/investment might say:. We need to perform due diligence.

More formal word for "know-it-all" - English Language & Usage Stack ...
42 pages! I wonder how the costs of your child's education compare to the presumably-massive legal fees the school board incurred, twice, on behalf of taxpayers to try to avoid those same costs. For some reason, I find myself betting they're nowhere near. Sigh. Government. :) Glad to hear it worked out, anyway. Thanks for the update! –

What is the term for schools where students stay in one class all day ...
This is also used by some special education classrooms in higher grades. Some schools use a cohort model , where students are with the same group of kids all day (with one or more teachers). I've heard that term used by US teachers in grades 6-9 (ages ~11-15).

Is "when" a preposition? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
I had to come up with an "edit-the-mistakes" worksheet for a Special Education student on-the-fly. One of my offerings was this sentence: When I was three years old I can tie my shoes. I had intended the correction to be this sentence: When I was three-years-old, I could tie my shoes.

Etymology of "div" meaning "a stupid or foolish person"
A child with "individual needs" has needs which are different from the majority of children, usually involving particular aspects of school life — generally learning, although it could apply to other aspects like personal care — for which special assistance is required.

In legal citations, why are "see", "see also", etc., in italics?
Well, going pro se to my son's special education impartial hearing, which lasted ten days, writing the closing argument, and writing a 40-page petition of appeal, have already made me well aware of my lack of legal training. Please don't rub it in!

capitalization - "Masters degree" — capital M or not? - English ...
The word "master's degree", used generically, means the degree attained by a master. For example, using it in this sentence is correct:

What is the adjective for a child who has finished kindergarten education?
In Britain we would say that they were a child of normal school age, (or of school age).. This would mean either that they had reached their fifth birthday (from when education becomes compulsory), or that they were a rising five and, depending on the local schools' admissions criteria, were eligible for a school place.

What do we call the “rd” in “3ʳᵈ” and the “th” in “9ᵗʰ”?
@WS2 In speech, very nearly always. In writing, much less so. I think what may be going on is that one just assumes that “June 1” is pronounced “June First”, or “4 July” as “the Fourth of July”.