K-12 Dive

The number of special education state complaints has continued its year-over-year climb nationwide, jumping 7% between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years alone, according to an analysis released this month by the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education, a federally funded technical assistance center. Between 2014 and 2024, the tally skyrocketed by 113%. Formally called “written state complaints,” they often trigger state-led investigations into special education-related concerns brought forward by anyone. Some 10,610 written state complaints were filed during the 2024-25 school year, up from 9,927 the year before. Just three states — Texas, Massachusetts and California — accounted for 26% of the nation’s written state complaints in 2024-25. CADRE’s analysis is based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Education and also from data CADRE collected directly from states.