Federal Legislation & News
in Special Education
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Teachers are using AI to help write IEPs. Advocates have concerns
Education Week A growing number of special education teachers say they use artificial intelligence platforms to draft all or part of students’ individualized education programs, even as many districts lack policies about how the rapidly evolving technology can be...
ID: Special ed services show up more explicitly in November levy ballot language
ID ED News Voters will see evidence of the growing special education funding gap on their ballots next month, as seven school districts seek more than $3.3 million in supplemental levy funds to pay for special education. That’s a significant increase from May, when...
ME: Federal special education layoffs could hit Maine schools hard, educators warn
Maine Morning Star Maine special educators — who are already overwhelmed and underfunded — are worried about being able to consistently meet the needs of students amid the changing federal landscape, said Jesse Hargrove, president of the Maine Education Association,...
MI: Lipsitt: What cuts to special ed mean for Michigan’s kids (OPINION)
The Detroit News When a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to lay off hundreds of U.S. Department of Education employees late last week, many celebrated. But for those of us who work directly with Michigan families of students with...
PA: Federal education cuts worry PA students with disabilities advocates
Elwood City Ledger Groups that advocate for public schools in Pennsylvania warn that steps to downsize and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education will mean less help for students with disabilities. The Trump administration’s changes could severely curtail services...
PA: Concerns grow over restraints for Pa. students with disabilities
NBC10 Philadelphia Holton says she didn’t know the full extent of what happened in the classroom until she got a call from the school district in the spring. “The Special Ed supervisor called me and said that he was restrained 3,193 times,” she said, her voice...
TX: Advocates worry about special education oversight in Texas after recent cuts
Advocates and former education officials are concerned about the future of special education in Texas following a Trump administration decision to cut staff in the special education office of the Department of Education. The firings happened last week amid the...
ED Secretary Speaks Up About Plans to Shift Programs Out of ED
Multiple press outlets are reporting that Secretary of Education (ED) Linda McMahon -as verified through ED’s communications office- is working to “make good on pledges” from the President to close the department and send programs, including activities related to the...
LPI Releases Report on Use of Behavioral Threat Assessments
The Learning Policy Institute (LPI) has released Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments. The report reviews the use of behavioral threat assessment (BTA) systems to identify and manage potential acts of violence, such as school shootings,...
Trump admin considering a change for who runs special education
USA Today The Department of Education is in the early stages of recruiting another agency to help oversee federal special education programs, a spokeswoman said. The potential transfer of responsibilities follows the Education Department's layoff of nearly everyone in...