Empowering Families in Special Education Act

Sponsored bySen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]MO· Introduced 26 February 2025

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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

26 February 2025·1 year ago

Summary

Introduced in Senate · Updated 7 May 2025

Empowering Families in Special Education Act

This bill establishes a notification requirement related to an individualized education program (IEP). (Generally, IEPs are individualized plans to ensure that a child with a disability receives a free appropriate public education.)

Under current law, states and local educational agencies (LEAs) must convene a team to develop an IEP. The composition of the team that develops the IEP is outlined in current law and allows for other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child (including related services personnel, as appropriate) to participate in this team. This bill requires the LEA that serves the child to notify the child's parents of their right to include these other individuals with knowledge or special expertise on the child's IEP team.

Timeline

2 actions

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
26 February 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in Senate
26 February 2025 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

4 cosponsors

Sponsor

Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]MO

Cosponsors

Democrat375%
Republican125%

Democrat:Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]GA
Republican:Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]MT
Democrat:Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]NH
Democrat:Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]CA

Classification

Policy area

Education

Legislative subjects

Disability assistanceSpecial educationTeaching, teachers, curricula

Cosponsor momentum

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