Standing up for special education

Advocates hold town hall to fight back against state and federal cuts

Over 100 parents, educators, and other advocates participated in a virtual town hall last night, to learn how to take action against federal and state-level threats to special education in Ohio. Speakers addressed national threats to special education programs and services, and state legislators’ plans to shortchange special education students by abandoning the Fair School Funding Plan.

“The state of Ohio has the revenue to fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan, with a formula that is based on the actual costs of educating every child, including those who need — and are legally entitled to — special services that allow them full access to their education.” said Hannah Halbert, Executive Director, Policy Matters Ohio. “The problem is that lawmakers have chosen time and time again to prioritize the very wealthy few, costing us around $12.8 billion annually in forgone revenue. When legislators say ‘We can’t afford the FSFP,’ show them the research and tell them we can, if we lay off the tax cuts for the wealthy.”

“For years, public education has been under attack in Ohio. We’re now seeing that at the federal level,” said Mary Kusler, Senior Director of the Center for Advocacy, National Education Association. Kunsler called on advocates to contact members of Ohio’s Congressional delegation to urge them to reject a budget bill (HCR 14) that would “take money from public schools and give it to private schools” while reducing funding for Medicaid and SNAP, both federal programs that are especially helpful for students who receive special education services and their families.

“Medicaid cuts … affect the related services special education students receive in school,” said Daria DeNoia, Education Policy and Practice Consultant, Ohio Education Association. “The majority of [related services] are funded through Medicaid dollars.” Cutting these funds, or distributing them in the form of a block grant will result in uncertainty and likely disruption or discontinuation of services for students.

“We all want to raise our children in a nation that values their education and provides for every child’s unique needs. Programs like Individualized Education Plans and 504 plans are vital to achieving these goals by supporting students with special needs and allowing them to thrive,” said Nick Tuell, whose five-year-old son Jackson is a student in Lebanon City Schools. “Jackson’s IEP, along with state and federal special education funding, empower him to grow and communicate his needs to those around him,” Tuell said of Jackson, who has Autism and is non-verbal. “Our story isn’t unique: Families across Ohio rely on these federal programs to ensure our kids receive the tailored services they need to succeed in school in beyond. Yet today, these programs — and Jackson’s future — face significant threats. Recent proposals…jeopardize the very foundation of special education in Ohio and around the country.”

“The problems we are facing are not new, but they are exacerbated by the potential loss of funding at the state and federal levels,” said Amber Clark, Vice President, South-Western Education Association, and special education teacher. “Research shows that providing support to students in a general education setting is beneficial to everyone — but only when appropriate staffing and supports are provided. In many districts across the state, the level of support is based on staffing or budgeting concerns, not student need. This is the same ineffective and unfair approach being suggested by the [Ohio] House. Instead of using the bipartisan [FSFP] formula that corresponds to the actual costs of educating students with special needs…the House plan would shortchange our students by providing just 10% of the funding our students need over the next two years.”

Speakers also urged all Ohioans to contact their state and federal legislators to demand they protect special education services and the state and federal funding that makes them possible. “Many parents of children who receive special education services have had to be tenacious advocates for their kids. State and federal leaders are about to get an earful, too many kids are at risk of losing critical services because of Federal and State budget and tax policy.” Halbert said.

Panelists shared the following list of action items and other resources:

Share your story: Policy Matters Ohio’s story bank for Ohioans affected by federal cuts.

Advocacy tips: How to set up a meeting with your legislator

Slide decks

• PMO’s presentation
• OEA’s presentation

Letters & Petitions

• Policy Matters Ohio’s email campaign to state legislators
• OEA’s email campaign to State Senators
• OEA’s Petition to Protect Ohio Classrooms
• NEA’s email campaign to Congress to protect the Dept. of Education
• NEA’s email campaign to Congress to protect education funding
• NEA’s email campaign to Congress opposing cuts to Medicaid and SNAP and the creation of a federal private school voucher.

Research, data, and other information

• Policy Matters’ school-funding factsheets for every state Senate & state House district
• Policy Matters’ comparisons of Fair School Funding to the House’s plan for every school district
• All In For Ohio Kids’ Fair School Funding Explorer
• Fair School Funding Plan Action Kit
• School Board & Superintendent Engagement kit
• NEA Protect Public Schools: Information, state level data, and action alerts.
• Federal Factsheets: How much public schools in each legislative district receive from Federal funds.
• Policy Matters Ohio’s brief on Medicaid in Schools
• Ohio Department of Education Legislative Report: 2024 Annual Status of Special Education and Related Services for Children with Disabilities
• ODEW Teacher Workforce Report