The Advocacy Institute

10/31/2024

U. S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold Public Briefing on the Federal Response to Teacher Shortage Impacts on Students with Disabilities on Friday, November 15, 2024. Details at

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a briefing on, Friday, November 15, 2024, on how national teacher shortages, exacerbated by the 2020 pandemic, have impacted students with disabilities. The investigation will focus on challenges schools face in staffing special education professionals,....

10/30/2024

Texas is slashing $607 million in Medicaid funding from program for students with disabilities

More than 775,000 students receive special education services in Texas, according to the Texas Education Agency. It is not as clear how many of them are eligible for Medicaid, though school district officials say many of the kids who directly benefit from SHARS come from low-income families.

10/29/2024

ICYMI: Webinar on Leveraging Technology To Equip K-12 Students for Success

Technology is changing the ways in which we learn and interact with the world. To best prepare U.S. students for this global shift, federal, state, and local policymakers must equip schools with the resources necessary to encourage innovation and incorporate modern and accessible educational technol...

10/24/2024

ICYMI: edWeb webinar: Learning Loss vs. Disability: Navigating Special Education Identification in the Post-Pandemic Classroom

View webinar recording at https://media.edweb.net/edWebinar/?view=20241023edweb75

10/23/2024

More kids than ever need special education, but burnout has caused a teacher shortage

Burnout, behavioral issues and a lack of support are 3 reasons why special education teachers are leaving the profession.

10/22/2024

The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities has issued this statement regarding Project 2025:https://www.c-c-d.org/fichiers/CCD-CoChairs-Statement-of-Project-2025-Signed.pdf

10/21/2024

U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Resolves Disability Compliance Review of St. Johns County School District in Florida
https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-educations-office-civil-rights-resolves-disability

10/04/2024

The Dept of Education has sent a letter to states regarding requests for a waiver or waiver extension of the 1% cap on alternate assessments for the 2024-2025 school year. The letter is posted at https://www.ed.gov/media/document/memo-states-regarding-requirements-waiver-of-10-percent-cap-alternate-assessments

09/30/2024

Meeting With Stakeholders on Disability Data Needs

Monday, Sept. 30, at 10:45 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET.

The purpose of the meeting is to better understand challenges in data availability and access for the disability community based on feedback in response to a Federal Register notice outlining proposed changes to the American Community Survey (ACS).

Watch live at

Join us for a live meeting with stakeholders about disability data needs today from 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

09/13/2024

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $251 million to 27 grantees across the country who are working to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to in-demand, good-paying jobs of the 21st century. Details at
https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-awards-more-251-million-improve-employment-opportunities-individuals-disabilities

09/10/2024

Project 2025 Would End Head Start and Hurt Children with Disabilities

Eliminating Head Start would drastically reduce the number of children identified and given supports.

09/09/2024

Senate Education Roundtable on Innovation in K-12 Education, Enhancing Student Achievement - Tuesday, Sept 10 at 2:30 PM ET. Watch at