special needs students

Complaints related to special education in Maryland have risen sharply, increasing 200% since 2022. The Baltimore Banner examines why families are filing more grievances over special education services, pointing to growing strains in how schools meet students' legally mandated support needs. The surge raises questions about staffing, service delays and whether school districts are complying with individualized education plans.

Mads Realmuto is running for the Pajaro Valley school board with a campaign focused on the district's budget and stronger advocacy for special education. Realmuto argues the district needs greater financial oversight and better support for students with disabilities, positions that are shaping the local education race in the Pajaro Valley.

A Texas news outlet explains that students who may need special education services must first be evaluated, and outlines how families can start the process by requesting testing from their school district. Coverage walks parents through the steps for initiating an evaluation, amid ongoing attention to whether Texas schools are identifying and serving children who qualify for special education support.

A parent in Hamilton County, Tennessee is publicly questioning how the county school district delivers special education services, arguing the current model falls short. The parent is urging district leaders to give teachers more support, saying classroom staff need additional resources and training to properly serve students with disabilities.

The Michigan Education Association is working to highlight the critical role paraeducators play in supporting vulnerable students. The push aims to raise recognition of the support staff who assist students with special needs and other challenges, at a time when schools face staffing pressures and debates over education funding and support roles.

NYC Autism Charter Schools and DREAM Charter Schools have announced plans to merge, combining two New York City charter networks that serve students with distinct needs, including children with autism and students from underserved communities. The combination would create a larger education organization spanning the city, though details on timelines, leadership and how programs will be integrated have not yet been made public.

Candidates running for the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education in New Jersey have taken part in a special education Q&A ahead of the 2026 election cycle. The local news outlet The Village Green published the questions and answers, giving families in the district a direct look at where each candidate stands on special education services and policy.

Farmington school officials report that the special education needs among their students are growing more complex. According to the Sun Journal, the district is finding it harder to meet a wider range of individualized requirements, a challenge many school systems face as diagnoses and support expectations evolve. The report has drawn attention to staffing, funding and service pressures in the district.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will carry out a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Blue Hills Regional Technical School. The review is a standard state process examining a district's compliance with education regulations and its effectiveness in serving students, including those with special needs. The announcement was issued through John Guilfoil Public Relations, and findings are typically released to the school community after the review is completed.

The Student Government Association at the University of Maryland is holding a special election this week. The Diamondback, the campus student newspaper, is informing students about the vote, outlining what they need to know about how and when to cast their ballots. Details on candidates, races and polling procedures are being shared as students prepare to choose new student government representatives.