The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits the use of unlawful seclusion and restraint in schools receiving federal funding, including physical restraint that restricts breathing or blood flow, chemical restraint not prescribed for medical treatment, and mechanical restraint. The bill requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, mandates that staff using physical restraint be trained and certified through State-approved programs, and requires immediate parent notification after any restraint incident. States must develop plans to monitor compliance, collect and report data on restraint incidents (disaggregated by race, disability status, and school type), and implement positive behavioral interventions. The bill provides $40 million annually for five years to support states in implementing these requirements and improving school climate through evidence-based approaches.
S 2913, the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act, prevents federal funding from being used to restructure or eliminate offices within the Department of Education that administer disability-related programs. The bill specifically prohibits using funds to: (1) dismantle or merge offices serving students with disabilities (under IDEA) or adults with disabilities (under the Rehabilitation Act), (2) change staff roles that could undermine these programs, or (3) outsource these services to outside organizations. It directly affects the Department of Education’s disability program offices and the students and adults who rely on their services. The bill maintains existing program structures by restricting how federal funds can be allocated, ensuring compliance with current laws like IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act.
The RISE Act amends the Higher Education Act to improve support for college students with disabilities. It requires institutions to accept multiple forms of documentation (like high school IEPs or 504 plans) to verify disability status and mandates transparent, accessible processes for determining accommodation eligibility. Colleges must also report specific disability-related data to federal databases, including the number of students receiving accommodations and degree completions. Additionally, the bill authorizes $10 million annually (2027-2031) for a national center providing technical support to students with disabilities, without altering existing ADA definitions or rights.
This bill (HR 6932, the IDEAL Act) is a procedural appropriations measure focused on reallocating unused federal education funds. It permanently rescinds unobligated funds from the 2026 education budget and redirects those amounts to support the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. The funds are intended to supplement, not replace, existing IDEA funding for states, ensuring continued support for the education of approximately 8 million students with disabilities nationwide. The bill does not change IDEA's requirements or create new services, but rather manages existing funding allocations.
This bill amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to require local school districts to notify parents of children with disabilities before the first annual IEP meeting each school year. Specifically, it mandates that schools inform parents they may invite additional individuals with knowledge or expertise about their child (such as related services staff) to join the IEP team. The key provision adds a new notification requirement within the IDEA framework, ensuring parents are aware of this option prior to meetings. This directly affects parents of students with disabilities and the school districts responsible for their education.
This bill creates a federal grant program to support K-12 schools in preparing for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. It provides $34.5 million (2026-2030) for states to fund local schools to train staff on seizure awareness, develop personalized emergency care plans, and ensure proper medical accommodations. Schools must train all staff every two years, provide bus drivers with student-specific care information, and create detailed health plans covering symptoms, activity accommodations, and communication protocols. The program supplements existing funding and protects school staff from liability for good-faith actions related to implementing these requirements.
The 21st Century Dyslexia Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to explicitly include dyslexia in the definition of specific learning disabilities and provide a clear definition of dyslexia as an unexpected difficulty in reading due to challenges in phonological processing. It requires schools to provide equal access to accommodations and services for all eligible students, including those from low-income families, low socioeconomic backgrounds, and limited English proficient students. This change ensures students with dyslexia are formally recognized under IDEA and that schools must consider these equity factors when determining eligibility and service provision. The bill does not alter existing eligibility criteria but clarifies definitions and mandates equitable access to support services.
HR 838, the A PLUS Act, allows states to consolidate federal education funds into a single funding stream under a "declaration of intent," reducing administrative paperwork. States must submit a plan detailing which programs they’ll combine (excluding special education funds), how they’ll use the money to improve student achievement, and how they’ll report progress to parents and the public. The bill requires states to ensure federal funds "supplement, not supplant" state education spending and maintain accountability through annual public reports on student performance data. This directly affects states managing federal education programs, aiming to simplify compliance while keeping public oversight of how funds are used.
The IDEA Full Funding Act (S 1277) mandates specific annual funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) starting in fiscal year 2026. It sets fixed dollar amounts or percentage-based funding (ranging from 11.6% to 40% of a calculated base) for states providing special education services to children with disabilities aged 3-21. Funding becomes available on July 1 each year and remains accessible through September 30 of the following year, with amounts increasing annually through 2035. This directly affects all states receiving IDEA grants by guaranteeing minimum federal funding tied to the number of eligible students and national per-pupil spending averages.
This bill expands eligibility for family and medical leave under the FMLA for paraprofessionals and education support staff (ESP) in schools. It lowers the required work hours for eligibility from 1,250 hours per year to 60% of the expected monthly hours for their specific role (based on the previous school year’s schedule). Employers must document each employee’s expected monthly hours in a file for the Secretary’s review. The law specifically covers school staff providing services like clerical work, food services, custodial duties, or student health support, aligning with existing definitions from education law.
