Come for the learning. Stay for the connections. Join us at COPAA 2027! Tag a friend who should be there with you. Register & learn more: https://www.copaa.org/page/2027-conference-home #COPAA2027
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
@copaafape.bsky.social
COPAA Protects the Legal and Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities and their Families Nationwide
GAO Report shows more students w/disabilities are entering GEN ED classrooms, & districts must step up with real support to ensure inclusion leads to success: 🔗
More Students With Disabilities Are in General Education Classes. How's That Working?
New report examines states' efforts to educate students with disabilities in mainstream classrooms.
edweek.org
Houston ISD moves thousands of students w/disabilities to new campuses, the Texas ED says it must first review their IEPs & meet w/families, a requirement experts warn the district’s plan may violate
HISD will continue special education overhaul. Experts say its plan conflicts with state orders.
The Texas Education Agency ordered HISD to review student records and meet with families before the district overhauls its special education services.
yahoo.com
Join us TOMORROW at 1 PM ET for Advocate Late Nite - Summer Session! This week, Cynthia and David will discuss the topic "AI & VR Update for Students" with Lisa Monthie. Register now - https://learn.copaa.org/products/advocate-late-nite-2026 #AdvocateLateNite #COPAA #SPED #AI #VR
Say NO to the 21st Century Dyslexia Act. Congress must reject this bill. Students deserve research-based early intervention, not IQ tests or waiting to fail. Read & share our statement::
Disability Rights Organization’s Statement in Response to the Committee Vote on the 21st Century Dyslexia Act - National Center for Learning Disabilities
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is disturbed by and strongly condemns recent remarks by the Administration suggesting that any individual with a learning disability should not serve as president.
ncld.co
A Texas investigation found Houston ISD violated federal SPED requirements, ordering the district to review thousands of IEPs & fix systemic issues after 5,000 students w/disabilities were abruptly reassigned: 🔗
TEA orders HISD to review special education overhaul after violations found
In a response to a parent complaint, the TEA said HISD cannot "unilaterally" change a student's individualized education program and ordered the district to make systemwide corrections.
yahoo.com
FED NC’s SPED still needs improvement, citing delays, underfunding, & repeat noncompliance affecting 200K+ students. Read COPAA’s report: States are Failing Their Legal Obligations to Students- IDEA.
Feds say NC special education still needs improvement. What they say still isn't working
A report by the U.S. Department of Education is the latest to raise concerns about special education in North Carolina, which families and advocates for thousands of students with disabilities have long contended is drastically underfunded.
wral.com
New Hampshire’s new law could bring millions in added special education aid and accountability measures to school districts starting in 2028 🔗
New Hampshire's new special education aid formula, explained • New Hampshire Bulletin
New Hampshire schools could eventually receive millions of dollars more in state aid for costly special education services. Here's how it would work.
newhampshirebulletin.com
Jon Zimring, Esq., will be presenting on Attorney Fees TODAY at 1 PM ET for the Attorney Roundtable. Registration (Members ONLY and Free): https://lnkd.in/dRRrgqck #COPAA #AttorneyRoundtable #AttorneyFees
California Gov. Newsom just signed a budget boosting the state’s special education funding by $2.4 billion to strengthen services, support teachers, and stabilize districts facing rising costs: 🔗
Newsom signs bill to boost special ed spending as Sacramento schools struggle
The $2.4 billion in new funding comes as Sacramento-area school districts face scrutiny about meeting students’ special education needs.
sacbee.com
Join COPAA & Vanderbilt for a NEW research training opportunity focused on Section 504 Plans! Are you - A person with a disability or a family caregiver of a child with a Section 504 plan? 👉 https://redcap.vanderbilt.edu/surveys/?s=C4F9JX9A3HM3F93X #COPAA #Vanderbilt #Section504
COPAA is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 36th Anniversary. Learn how you can too, here: adaanniversary.org #COPAA#ADA36 #ThanksToTheADA
AZ’s ED Savings Acct shows a 200% surge in SPED vouchers, tripling to 21K students in 4yrs, raising oversight Q's 🔗
Arizona students with disabilities fuel rapid growth in billion-dollar ESA voucher program
A 12News investigation found the number of students receiving higher-paying special education vouchers has tripled in four years, raising new oversight questions.
12news.com
The swag is fun. The real takeaway is the partnerships, knowledge, and connections that last beyond the conference. Interested in sponsoring #COPAA2027 in San Diego? 🔗https://www.copaa.org/page/2027-conference-partnering-opportunities #COPAA2027
COPAA and Partners Demand Information and Transparency from the Department of Education Read the full press release here -
NCYL, Lawyers’ Committee, and COPAA demand information and transparency - Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.
The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCRUL), and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) have advanced a sweeping legal effort to force transparency from the Department of Education (Department), submitting a new Freedom of I...
copaa.org
COPAA’s Attorney Course is open! If you're an attorney or law student seeking to enhance your skills in SPED law, this is the chance to gain the knowledge and confidence needed to advocate for students with disabilities and their families. Register here:
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: Attorney Class
If you’re an attorney or law student looking to build or strengthen your practice in special education law, this is your opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively advocate for students with disabilities and their families.
learn.copaa.org
Join COPAA for the Attorney Roundtable on July 28th at 1PM/ET, featuring Jon Zimring, Esq., with a presentation on Attorney Fees. Registration (Members ONLY and Free): https://learn.copaa.org/p/attorneyfeesroundtable #COPAA #AttorneyRoundtable #AttorneyFees
Join us TOMORROW at 1 PM/ET for Advocate Late Nite - summer session! This week, Cynthia & David will be discussing the topic of Transition Assessment w/guest Judith Imperatore. Register now - https://learn.copaa.org/products/advocate-late-nite-2026 #AdvocateLateNite #COPAA #TransitionAssessment
Texas promised families up to $30K in disability vouchers, but fewer than 30 students, under 1% of applicants who reported a disability. 🔗
Texas promised children with disabilities up to $30K vouchers. Fewer than 30 got the full amount
The Texas Education Freedom Account directors warned parents that most would not receive the maximum voucher amount, but many families still hoped for more to pay for costly private schools.
msn.com
¡Ya está abierta la inscripción para el curso de español BSEAT® de agosto de 2026! Inscríbete ahora: https://learn.copaa.org/bseatespanol ¿Tienes preguntas? Contacta a Daysi en daysi@copaa.org
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: BSEAT Español
BSEAT® Español - Fundamentos de la Defensa en Educación Especial en EspañolFundamentos de la Defensa en Educación Especial en Español (BSEAT® Español) es un curso nacional, 100% en línea, de doce sesiones diseñado para personas interesadas en desarrollar y fortalecer conocimientos en la d...
learn.copaa.org
TX, parents are mobilizing against the HISD district’s plan to consolidate SPED, a move now under FED civil rights investigation, w/advocates call “unethical, amoral, illegal.”
Special education parents in Houston ISD searching for answers ahead of changes in services | Houston Public Media
The district is consolidating special education services for the 2026-27 school year, which has prompted a federal civil rights investigation.
houstonpublicmedia.org
¡Ya está abierta la inscripción para el curso de español BSEAT® de agosto de 2026! Inscríbete ahora: https://learn.copaa.org/bseatespanol ¿Tienes preguntas? Contacta a Daysi en daysi@copaa.org
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: BSEAT Español
BSEAT® Español - Fundamentos de la Defensa en Educación Especial en EspañolFundamentos de la Defensa en Educación Especial en Español (BSEAT® Español) es un curso nacional, 100% en línea, de doce sesiones diseñado para personas interesadas en desarrollar y fortalecer conocimientos en la d...
learn.copaa.org
NJ BOE says the second phase of its SPED audit has been sent to law enforcement, w/criminal investigation now underway & the full report withheld from both the board & the public
Jersey City BOE special ed audit report referred to authorities, criminal probe underway - Hudson County View
The Jersey City BOE announced the summary findings of the second part of the special education audit, with a criminal investigation underway.
hudsoncountyview.com
Idaho’s $5M SPED fund is already expected to fall far short of student needs, w/Superintendent Critchfield warning it could “be gone in a minute,”.
Special ed faces two changes, but the budget crunch isn’t go...
dnews.com
Lawsuit Challenges Decision to Withhold Millions in Education Research Funding, Including for Special Education Read more 🔗
protectdemocracy.org
Connecticut saw a sharp rise in SPED disputes w/complaints up 29.6%, due process filings up 12%, & mediations up 9.4%, signaling growing parent awareness of their rights & even AI‑supported advocacy.
CT has seen 267 special education complaints. Experts suspect AI
Experts say it could point to a heightened understanding of special education law — and some say parents’ use of artificial intelligence could play a role.
courant.com
ED Briefing Focuses on Pending Role of HHS & IDEA OSERS briefed on ED-HHS agreement. No takeover of IDEA, but concerns over staff cuts & oversight. 🔗https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.copaa.org/resource/resmgr/docs/2026_docs_/idea_state_monitoring.pdf 🔗https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qjzue7H2Hk
¡Ya está abierta la inscripción para el curso de español BSEAT® de agosto de 2026! Inscríbete ahora: https://learn.copaa.org/bseatespanol ¿Tienes preguntas? Contacta a Daysi en daysi@copaa.org
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: BSEAT Español
BSEAT® Español - Fundamentos de la Defensa en Educación Especial en EspañolFundamentos de la Defensa en Educación Especial en Español (BSEAT® Español) es un curso nacional, 100% en línea, de doce sesiones diseñado para personas interesadas en desarrollar y fortalecer conocimientos en la d...
learn.copaa.org
Former federal officials oppose the special education interagency agreement Read more in this article by K-12 Dive https://www.k12dive.com/news/former-federal-officials-oppose-special-education-interagency-agreement/825228/ #SpecialEducation #DisabilityRights #ProtectOurKids #AdvanceIDEA
Former federal officials oppose special education interagency agreement
Pushback grows as House lawmakers consider permanently moving some other Education Department functions to outside agencies.
k12dive.com