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Special Education Law

3 potential changes to special education on the horizon in 2025

On Behalf of | Jan 29, 2025 | Special Education |

Numerous federal and state statutes protect students with special needs. Public schools, in particular, have an obligation to accommodate students who need support to attend school. Parents typically have to work closely with educational professionals to ensure that their children receive appropriate support. However, there could be changes to special education services on the horizon in 2025 that parents need to be aware of if they want to effectively advocate for their children.

What upcoming changes could alter the support available for students with special needs?

Defunding or minimizing the Department of Education

Public schools receive funding from the federal government in addition to taxpayers. The incoming administration could potentially seek to make significant changes to the Department of Education. Potential changes could include dissolving the organization or attempting to reduce the functions it performs. Such changes could potentially result in funding changes that could have an outsized impact on students with special needs.

A reduction in Title 1 funding

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) established a requirement for federal funding to ensure that all children receive a quality education in its Title I. Title I of the ESSA helped ensure that students in school districts serving those below the poverty line could receive federal aid. Roughly two-thirds of public schools and many students in low-income areas rely on Title I funding to some degree. Attempts to roll back federal support for low-income school districts could have catastrophic consequences, especially for students with special needs within those districts.

New state rules expand protections

The good news for concerned parents in California is that Governor Newsom recently approved legislation intended to provide better support for those with special needs. The bills he signed into law include provisions prohibiting prone restraint and rules that encourage post-secondary educational goals for students with IEPs as they proceed through high school.

In theory, those new state regulations could make education safer and more accessible for many children with special needs in California. The tension between changing federal and state policy could result in complications, and parents may need to be ready to assert themselves on behalf of their children.

Tracking changes in special education law can help parents obtain the best support possible for their children. Students with special needs often require unique support and advocacy to thrive in a traditional educational setting.

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