August Policy News Round-Up

As the end of summer nears, a new study on special education funding is announced, and draft guidance is released on supporting neglected or delinquent youth. Plus, see what the NCLD staff has been reading in August!

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New Study Announced on the Costs of Special Education

A new pilot study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute for Education Sciences (IES) and the American Institutes for Research (AIR) “will lay the groundwork for a nationwide examination of the billions of dollars spent annually on special education.” Despite existing efforts and reliable estimates, education stakeholders do not actually know exactly how much schools spend on special education services, nor how much it truly costs to provide services to students with disabilities. We also do not know how much costs have risen in recent years. A similar study to the one announced by IES and AIR was conducted during the 1999-2000 school year, which found that special education services cost $50 billion, or $8,080 per student requiring services. Researchers anticipate these costs have likely grown in the past 25 years. It is important to understand the true costs of providing special education services so policymakers can allocate funds appropriately and make progress toward full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 

Department of Education Releases Draft Guidance to Support Neglected, Delinquent, and At-Risk Students 

The U.S. Department of Education (USED) released draft guidance around Title I, Part D, and is seeking public comments and feedback. Title I, Part D relates to Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk. These programs have an important impact on students with disabilities, as they are disproportionately impacted by punitive systems that lead to delinquency and drop-out rates. With stronger Title I, Part D guidance, students with disabilities can gain better supports that address their unique needs in intersectional environments and reduce the likelihood of falling into the school-to-prison pipeline. 

What We’re Reading

August is often a quiet month for federal policy, with Congress out on a summer recess. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t news to share! Here’s what NCLD staff are reading this month:

• Opinion | My Son and Gus Walz Deserve a Champion Like Tim Walz , The New York Times
• When a Department Self Destructs, Chronicle of Higher Education
• Kansas student with special needs locked in cage, compared to ‘animal,’ lawsuit says, CBS Austin
• Teachers need resources for reading instruction, especially in older grades, K-12 Dive
• 50 states, one goal: Cut chronic absenteeism in schools by 50 percent in 5 years, The Hill

How Joy and Belonging Can Help Underrepresented Students Succeed in STEM, Center for American Progress