When Special Education Programs are Cut: What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know

According to the National Education Association, special education cuts will negatively impact students with disabilities by potentially decreasing funding, leading to fewer teachers and support staff, and reducing access to essential services like therapy and assistive technology. These cuts can also weaken federal oversight, making it harder to enforce legal protections and ensure schools provide a free and appropriate public education as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This could lead to larger class sizes, decreased support, and a widening gap in educational equity.

For families who rely on these services, the impact can feel immediate and unsettling. As a school psychologist, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial individualized support is for students with learning differences, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and emotional or behavioral needs. Yet even in challenging times, parents can take proactive steps to ensure their children continue receiving the care and support they deserve.

1. Know Your Child’s Rights

Even when budgets tighten, a child’s educational rights do not disappear. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities are legally entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). If your child has an IEP or 504 Plan, the school is still required to follow it.Parents should:

• Request a copy of the IEP or 504 Plan and review it carefully.

• Document any changes or service reductions.

• If services are missed or reduced, request a meeting to discuss compensatory education or alternative supports.

  
  

Knowledge is a parent’s most powerful advocacy tool. Understanding what schools are obligated to provide helps ensure that temporary cuts don’t become long-term losses.

2. Strengthen Home–School Communication

Cuts often mean that teachers and special education staff are stretched thin. Maintaining open, respectful communication can help prevent missteps and confusion.

• Check in regularly with teachers about how your child is doing in class.

• Share updates from home about what strategies are working or where your child is struggling.

• Express appreciation when staff go the extra mile — gratitude builds collaboration even in strained systems. Also, ask how you can help make their job a little easier.

When schools see parents as partners, they are often more motivated to find creative solutions.

3. Use Community and Online Resources

Local advocacy groups, parent training centers, and nonprofit organizations can help fill the gap left by school cuts. Many offer free or low-cost tutoring, occupational therapy, or parent coaching. Online communities such as Understood.org or the Council for Exceptional Children provide guidance, templates, and peer support for navigating special education challenges.

• https://www.ldexpert.org/ This organization provides online tutoring for children with learning disabilities and uses research-based curriculum for children and teens with reading disorders

• https://specialedtutoring.com/ Provides tutoring, homework help and support and group tutoring for children with special needs

• https://www.thesunshinemethod.com/ This company focuses efforts on providing quality education, mentorship, and advocacy, and they build awareness for children in Foster Care, Children’s Hospitals, Refugee Programs, Exceptional Student Education programs, National School Lunch Programs, and the Private Sector to help bridge the Educational Achievement Gap.

4. Keep the Big Picture in Mind

School systems may change, but your child’s needs and potential remain constant. The skills you build now — advocacy, communication, flexibility, and problem-solving — will serve your child for years to come. Cuts to special education services are disheartening, but they can also spark stronger partnerships between families and schools, and remind communities of the shared responsibility to support every learner.

• Lean on each other by finding groups of parents and children that can collaborate and learn from one another.

• Enrich your child's skills by ensuring they have plenty of real-life opportunities to increase their social and communication skills (e.g., spending time with peers outside of the house, going to community events, joining organization, etc.).

While parents can’t control funding decisions, they can control how they respond. Staying informed, documenting changes, collaborating with schools, and providing emotional and academic support at home can all buffer the effects of systemic cuts. Advocacy begins at the family level — and it can ripple outward to make real change for children everywhere.

David Krasky is a licensed school psychologist and author of Raising Future Adults.