Regional special ed.; DOE to assess enhancements & strategies to maximize use of funds for students.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details on what enhancements or strategies will be considered beyond mentioning existing barriers, allowable disability categories, appropriate recognition of costs, supplemental funding for center-based programs, and other matters deemed appropriate by the Department.

Improving Special Ed Funding for Students

This bill requires the Department of Education to assess ways to improve the use of special education funds to reduce referrals of students with disabilities to private day schools.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Education to work with other groups, including the Office of Children's Services and legislative committee staff, to find enhancements and strategies for better using funds designated for regional special education programs.
• The assessment aims to reduce the number of students being referred to private day schools due to disabilities.
• The Department must report its findings and recommendations by December 15, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students with disabilities who might be referred to private day schools.
• School divisions that provide special education services.
• The Department of Education and the Office of Children's Services.

Terms To Know

Regional Special Education

Special education programs designed for students with intensive support needs in specific regions.

Students with Intensive Support Needs Application Program

A program that provides funding to help schools meet the needs of students who require a lot of extra support.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much money will be available for these improvements.
• It is unclear what specific changes or enhancements might come from this assessment.

Official Summary Text

Department of Education; assessment; utilization of funds for regional special education students; report.
Requires the Department of Education (the Department), in collaboration with the Office of Children's Services, staff from the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and such other stakeholders as the Department deems appropriate, to assess potential enhancements and strategies to maximize utilization of funds designated for regional special education students, commonly referred to as the Students with Intensive Support Needs Application program, in order to decrease the number of referrals of students with disabilities into private day school placements. The bill requires the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations and Education and the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations no later than December 15, 2026.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL NO. 1373

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations

on February 13, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Carroll)

A BILL to require the Department of Education to assess potential enhancements and strategies to maximize utilization of funds designated for regional special education students in order to decrease the number of referrals of students with disabilities into private day school placements; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.

The Department of Education (the Department), in collaboration with the Office of Children
'
s Services, staff from the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees
,
and such other stakeholders as the Department deems appropriate, shall assess potential enhancements and strategies to maximize utilization of funds designated for regional special education students, commonly referred to as the Students with Intensive Support Needs Application program,
in order
to decrease the number of referrals of students with disabilities into private day school placements. In its review, the Department shall consider
(i)
existing barriers to school divisions' maximization of these funds,
(ii)
allowable disability categories,
(iii)
appropriate recognition of costs,
(iv)
the appropriateness of supplemental funding for school divisions operating center-based programs for students with disabilities, and
(v)
other matters deemed appropriate by the Department. The Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee
s
on Appropriations and Education
and the Chairs of
the Senate Committee
s
on Education and Health
and
Finance and Appropriations no later than December 15, 2026.