Law and Policy Blog
Substantial Budget Cuts There are significant changes coming in the new school year, 2025-2026 for public schools and special education. The Trump administration has paused billions of dollars in K-12 grants that many districts had already budgeted for in 2025 and 2026. According to ABC News (Arthur Jones II, July 2, 2025) The Trump administration is, “pausing over $6 billion of congressionally appropriated federal funding for after-school, student support, teacher training, English language and other education programs.” Although the administration claims that statutorily mandated special education funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have been awarded to states on time, school budgets are usually approved in May or June and money is allocated by July 1st and students will be returning to the classroom while schools will still be uncertain about how the withheld funds will affect their schools. So, for example, English Language Learners (ELLs) may face reduced staff, or lose tutoring programs. Children in afterschool programs could be unsupervised, or their parents may be forced to leave their jobs. The summary of the 2026 Budget Request given by the U.S. Department of Education claims that, “overall, the Request includes $66.7 billion in new discretionary budget authority …
IEP meetings go smoother when you arrive organized, with clear priorities and the right documents. Below is a practical, Massachusetts-specific organizer you can use to prepare-paired with citations to state rules and official guidance. 1) Two Weeks Before: Gather & Organize Key Records Create a folder (digital or binder) for the last 2-3 years of documents. Organize by section so you can quickly reference data during the meeting. Educational records: prior IEPs/504s, progress reports/report cards, attendance, discipline notes, state test results. Evaluations/assessments: school evaluations (psych/ed/speech/OT/PT), any Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs), relevant medical or therapy reports. Communication logs: important emails, prior written concerns, meeting notes. Why …
Navigating the IEP process can feel overwhelming – but knowing the required Massachusetts timelines empowers you to advocate effectively. Below is a clear, parent-friendly roadmap from referral through implementation, with citations to the state regulations. 1. From Referral to Evaluation When a referral is made, the district must act promptly: Within 5 school working days: The district must notify parents and seek consent for an initial evaluation. (603 CMR 28.04(1)) Within 30 school working days: The district must conduct and complete evaluations. Assessment summaries must be available to parents at least two (2) days before the IEP Team meeting. (603 CMR 28.04(2)(c)) 2. Team Meeting & IEP Development After …
Introduction Massachusetts has launched an updated IEP form effective with the 2024-2025 school year – the first significant revision in over 20 years. This change marks a more inclusive, student-centered era in special education. In this post, we’ll walk you through what’s new, why it matters, and how parents can start preparing for a successful IEP process. Plus: read and download our full Massachusetts IEP Preparation Checklist (2025 Update) to follow every step. 1. What’s Different About the New IEP Form? More inclusive designation of disabilities The updated form allows for multiple disability checkboxes, instead of only indicating a primary category – reflecting the real-life …