Special Ed

Upcoming problems in special education funding for the 2025-2026 school year

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 …

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Understanding the New Massachusetts IEP Form: What Parents and Guardians Need to Know

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 …

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