According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate…
On August 16, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court (Court) rejected a request by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow enforcement of uncontested parts of the Title IX new Title IX final rule in some states where injunctions are in place. The DOJ asked the Court last month to determine whether…
In the past few years, school districts have navigated extraordinary challenges, from COVID-19 shutdowns and students’ academic lags to politically charged parental involvement and a constantly shifting policy landscape. Inevitably, some of these issues that start at the schoolhouse make their way to the courthouse. According to K-12 Dive, these…
As reported at the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) annual conference, a survey by the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education shows 98% of local special education directors said most relationships with families are positive, and 95% reported that most IEP meetings…
In an August 6, 2024 Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) conference session, U.S. Department of Education (USDE) presenters recommended that local and state school systems replicate and scale evidence-based promising practices for students with disabilities, rather than use new and quick fixes. According to Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy…
In an effort to help destigmatize mental health challenges among students, a recently signed California law allows the term ”emotional disability″ to replace “emotional disturbance” for special education services. The measure, which takes effect January 1, 2024, does not change the definition of the term and does not alter school-based…
On August 1, 2024, the US Senate Appropriations Committee, by a bipartisan vote of 25-3, approved an $80 billion FY 2025 funding plan for the U.S. Department of Education. The funding boost is nearly $1 billion more than the current budget provides. Included in the budget proposal are increases to…
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that about 70% of surveyed schools experienced special education teacher vacancies in the 2023-24 school year. In fact, about half of special education teachers leave the profession within the first five years of teaching, according to officials from CEC and CASE at…
On July 30, 2024 the U.S. Senate, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan 91-3 vote, approved two bills aimed at protecting children and teens online. On of the bills, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), establishes that online platforms would have a “duty” to prevent and mitigate certain dangers to minors, including…
On July 30, 2024 the U.S. Senate, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan 91-3 vote, approved two bills aimed at protecting children and teens online. On of the bills, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), establishes that online platforms would have a “duty” to prevent and mitigate certain dangers to minors, including…
