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FL: Private schools must provide parents special education offerings in writing, lawmakers argue
Florida Phoenix Parents of children with special education accommodations deserve more transparency when exercising school choice, Democratic lawmakers argue. Under existing law, private schools receiving school choice funding from the state are not required to...
IN: Indiana lawmakers revisit requirement for cameras in special education classrooms
Inside Indiana Business Should Indiana’s special education classrooms be equipped with round-the-clock video surveillance? Parents said the move would help protect kids and keep them informed of behavioral incidents. District administrators aren’t opposed—but only if...
OK: Controversial bill withdrawn following backlash, OK senator ‘regrets’ the turmoil
News 9 If it passed, SB1017 would have impacted medical care for students with special needs to include only “educationally necessary services” in schools. That means Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs — which provide specialized instruction and support services...
MI: Fears in Michigan loom over Trump promise to dismantle education dept.
Detroit Free Press As President Donald Trump seeks to shutter the U.S. Department of Education, the potential closure of the federal agency — which, among other purposes, directs funding for the education of low-income children and investigates allegations of...
MN: Special education funding a concern as MN lawmakers eye Trump education plans
KAXE Minnesota lawmakers have begun considering the potential impact on school funding in the state as President Donald Trump vows to eliminate the federal Department of Education. At a committee hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 4, staffers with the Minnesota Department of...
NY: Families unaware of how alternate assessments impact students with disabilities
The 74 Before starting at his Harlem high school, Jeurry always assumed he was progressing appropriately in school, despite having significant learning challenges. However, in his freshman year, he began to notice himself struggling to read longer words and more...
TX: State of Texas: ‘School choice’ emergency item wins fast approval in Senate
KXAN Austin Just days after Governor Greg Abbott laid out his priorities for lawmakers in his State of the State address, Senate lawmakers pushed through one of his top priorities. Texas Senators voted Wednesday evening to approve Senate Bill 2, the piece of...
TX: HISD special education audit delivers big ‘wake-up call’
Houston Landing The audit, obtained by the Houston Landing and reported here for the first time, offers new perspective on the scale of special education issues that state-appointed HISD Superintendent Mike Miles’ administration inherited upon his arrival in June...
VA: New bills seek to close learning gaps for students using AAC devices
Virginia Mercury When Toby and Lindsay Latham sent their son Calvin to school in Fairfax County, they hoped it would be a place where he could grow and thrive. Instead, they discovered he wasn’t learning at all. “It was terrible,” Toby Latham said. Calvin, who uses an...
TN: Lawmakers vote down amendment to protect students with disabilities
News Channel 5 Nashville Tennessee lawmakers heavily debated in a special session ahead of an educational voucher vote about how the wording of the bill would affect students with disabilities. HB 6004 provides the framework for how public tax dollars would fund...