Federal Legislation & News
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WI: Wisconsin school districts spent more on special education, now they’ll be reimbursed less
WPR Earlier this year, school leaders across Wisconsin asked the Republican-controlled Legislature to boost funding for special education services in public schools. The biennial budget included a reimbursement rate from the long-standing 32 percent to 42 percent this...
Family of student with autism wins in the Fifth Circuit in Extended School Year case
On November 21, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit handed down a victory for a student with a disability. You can read the Fifth Circuit decision in North East Independent School District v. I.M. here. In this case, the parent of a student...
ID: Education department considers lifting special education age limit
Idaho Ed News State leaders are considering increasing the age limit for special education services, after court orders in neighboring states made students eligible for services up to age 22. Idaho funds special education students in public schools through the...
KS: Kansas families like mine need US Department of Education
Wichita Eagle On Nov. 18, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon moved six key offices out of the U.S. Department of Education — a major step toward dismantling the agency entirely. As a mother of a child with autism and one with dyslexia, I am deeply opposed to these...
ED Moves to Transfer Programs to Other Federal Agencies, IDEA Spared For Now
On November 18, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced six interagency agreements (IAAs) with four agencies to “break up the federal education bureaucracy, ensure efficient delivery of funded programs, activities, and move closer to fulfilling the President’s...
COPAA and CASE Issue Shared Principles to Affirm Commitment To IDEA
On November 19, COPAA and the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) -along with 860 organizations and individual signers- issued a set of Shared Principles to affirm commitment to ensuring that children and youth with disabilities receive the education...
House Holds Hearing on Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE
Last week, the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education held a hearing titled From Classroom to Career: Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE. Witnesses included: Dr. Deb Volzer, Vice President, Workforce Development, SME; Kristi...
House Hearing Provides Means for Improving Youth Foster Care System
The Subcommittee on Work and Welfare of the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing titled: Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing on Leaving the Sticky Notes Behind: Harnessing Innovation and New Technology to Help America’s Foster Youth Succeed. Speakers...
Special educators, disability advocates form united front to protect IDEA
K-12 Dive More than 850 local, state, and national organizations Thursday morning released a joint commitment to support federal special education law and to protest any move that separates services for students with disabilities from the U.S. Department of...
Education Department’s role is bigger than critics realize | Opinion
USA Today When U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon claimed in USA TODAY that the recent government shutdown showed “how little the Department of Education will be missed,” she overlooked the damage done to the nation’s students,...