K-12 Dive

The number of special education written state complaints jumped by 22% in the 2023-24 school year compared to the year prior, according to a new analysis by the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education, a federal technical assistance center. Written state complaints involve a state-led investigation into a special education-related concern brought forward by anyone. CADRE’s data shows there were 9,927 written state complaints filed in 2023-24, which represents a 79% rise over the previous 10-year average of 5,537. CADRE’s analysis is based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Education.