At a December 13, 2024 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ listening session, those testifying lamented the adverse effects brought on by the highly qualified special education teacher shortage crisis. In his testimony, Aaron Parsons, public policy chair for the National Association of Private Special Education Centers, said that if the situation persists,…
In light of an expected mass deportation of undocumented immigrants by the incoming administration, many school districts are examining their policies and protocols. School districts are also stepping up efforts to help ensure that staff and the public are aware of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s policy designating schools…
The U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released a new resource outlining 21 examples of how artificial intelligence (AI) could contribute to discrimination in schools and colleges based on race, color or natural origin, sex or disability. The resource clarifies for school leaders how existing…
A national movement accelerating social inclusion among young people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) has reached a historic milestone. Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) programming now partners with 10,000 schools, from Pre-K through university, in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Together,…
Since President-elect Trump and some lawmakers in the incoming Republican-controlled Congress have vowed to limit federal involvement in K-12, including the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, which oversees funding and programming for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), many are expressing their concerns as to what may…
In the Senate, Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, will chair the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee when the 119th Congress convenes next month. In addition, Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, a 16-year veteran of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, was chosen as that committee’s next chair when Congress convenes…
On December 11, 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that will require the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) to make the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available by October 1 each year. The FAFSA Deadline Act will require the education secretary to update Congress on…
During oral arguments for Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC on December 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court appeared divided over tobacco industry claims that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unlawfully rejected millions of flavored e-cigarettes for approved sale due to concerns about nicotine addiction…
On December 9, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear two closely watched K-12 cases, one regarding a Wisconsin school district’s “gender identity support plan” policy and another on temporary admissions policies meant to diversify student bodies at three competitive Boston schools. In Parents Protecting Our Children v. Eau…
New guidance from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) promotes the use of individualized behavioral assessments and support plans for students with and without disabilities to help schools address problem behaviors and reduce suspensions and expulsions. The 25-page, nonregulatory guidance issued last month calls for using ”functional behavioral assessments″ (FBAs)…
