Federal Legislation & News
in Special Education
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Parents, advocates rally around special education for 50th anniversary of landmark law
WUNC It’s been 50 years since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed into law, and the milestone comes at a time when parents and activists are concerned about funding cuts for services. Rallies were planned outside multiple congressional...
Ed Department recalls staffers who handle complaints from students with disabilities
Disability Scoop The U.S. Department of Education is bringing back hundreds of staffers to tackle a backlog of civil rights cases — including complaints of disability discrimination in schools — after keeping them on administrative leave for most of the year. More...
As Justice Department priorities shift, concerns about protection of students’ civil rights escalate
Hechinger Report Within the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is a small office devoted to educational issues, including seclusion, as well as desegregation and racial harassment. The division intentionally chooses cases with potential for high impact and...
How one lawyer helped reshape special education at the Supreme Court
Education Week A new documentary is shining fresh attention on a major special education ruling the U.S. Supreme Court decided last term, spotlighting the lawyer who not only won that case but has played a role in several landmark victories for students with...
AZ: Federal cuts leave many Arizona special education students without oversight
KOLD.COM “It’s really important that some outside agency like OCR comes in -- someone outside the school district can come in and see what’s going on,” said Dr. Diana Newmark, University of Arizona Education Advocacy Clinic Director. Then the Trump Administration...
CA: California students with disabilities fear cuts after trump’s policy changes
KQED Sleep is a rare commodity at Lindsay Crain’s house. Most nights, she and her husband are up dozens of times, tending to their daughter’s seizures. The 16-year-old flails her arms, thrashes, and kicks — sometimes for hours. But these days, that’s not the only...
MA: Creem files legislation for database to monitor quality of special education in districts
Newton Beacon A proposed bill on Beacon Hill sponsored by Newton’s state senator would require the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to publish more detailed student data each year, with a particular focus on special education access....
MI: Michigan fails its students with disabilities, first-ever report finds
AP News When Michigan officials this year lauded a record-high 82.8% high school graduation rate in 2024, special education advocates pointed out a vastly different outcome: only 61% of students with disabilities graduated. That is one of several metrics showing what...
WI: Rep. Cruz: Introduces “Keep Our Promise” on special education reimbursement
WisPolitics Representative Angelina Cruz (D–Racine), a long-time public school teacher, introduced legislation today to hold the state accountable for meeting the special education reimbursement levels promised in the current budget. The “Keep Our Promise on Special...
COPAA and Partners Express Major Concerns with Federal Dyslexia Bill
COPAA and partners in the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) have sent a letter to Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN) to raise concerns and express opposition to the 21st Century Dyslexia Act (S.3010/H.R. 5769) as...