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>> Parents of some special needs children are complaining that D.C. public schools officials are forcing their kids out of private facilities and into neighborhood schools, reports the Examiner. Under current law, D.C. has to pay the tuition for special needs students whose needs can’t be addressed by traditional public schools; D.C. will spend $109 million next year to place 1,700 students in the facilities. But under a plan to cut the number of private placements, parents and advocates say that school officials are ignoring students’ needs and rushing them into public schools they’re not ready for.

>> Local and federal officials will gather this week to start discussing transit safety standards, writes WJLA. Congress recently passed a bill that allows the Department of Transportation to develop minimum safety standards for transit systems that receive federal funds. The bill was spurred in part by Metro’s 2009 crash that killed nine people.

>> A Prince George’s County man was killed over the weekend after he was told to lie in a street after being robbed and subsequently run over by a woman fleeing the same people who robbed him, reports the Post. Police say that the woman had no idea that he was lying on the street as she fled, and that his death was a freak accident. They are still seeking the robbers responsible for the incident.

Briefly Noted: Animal cruelty cases up in the region … D.C. man cleared in 1981 rape … Letter details Councilmember Jim Graham’s (D-Ward 1) role in influencing development contract on Metro site … Maryland officials again talking gambling … Ocean City considers banning beater boards … Courtland Milloy’s most recent diatribe is so awful that it’s only getting this much attention from us.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2011, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley expressed his support for same-sex marriage. In 2010, we were treated to the best D.C. campaign ad ever.