A report from the Center for Reinventing Public Education advocates for a legal right to adequate education for all students, not just those with disabilities. The report notes a rise in special education identification since the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and highlights disparities in support for students with similar challenges. Denise Marshall, CEO of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, criticizes the report as "politically ill-timed" and says it could undermine the rights of students with disabilities.

The Trump administration's plan to move the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from the Department of Education to another agency has raised concerns from experts. David DeMatthews, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, emphasizes the need for significant study and analysis to recreate the expertise of current staff. DeMatthews highlights the potential fragmentation of responsibilities and the importance of maintaining the quality of services for students with disabilities.

Dayton Public Schools is using a live virtual teaching model to bring certified subject-matter experts into classrooms to address teacher shortages, particularly in math, science, special education and multilingual learning. The model, piloted with Elevate K-12, involves real-time instruction from certified educators with the support of in-person paraeducators to manage the classroom.

Instead of waiting for permission from others, living authentically requires you to consciously permit yourself to act in ways that align with your values, including taking risks and expressing vulnerability, says Alaina Love, the CEO of Purpose Linked Consulting. In this interview with SmartBrief's Candace Chellew, Love outlines how permission works and how her new book, "Permission to Be You," can provide a "coach in a box" to help you recognize and honor who you already are.

Industry leaders and advocates at EdTech Week highlighted the challenges of data inoperability in K-12 education, especially for students with disabilities. The lack of standardized, transferable data systems disrupts services when students move between schools, particularly for military families who relocate frequently. Panelists emphasized the need for robust information exchange to ensure continuity of services and discussed the technical and emotional challenges faced by families and schools. Recent federal policy shifts and funding uncertainties add to the complexity, underscoring the importance of improving data interoperability.

AI tools can help teachers efficiently personalize instruction for diverse learners, writes elementary school tech coach Debbie Tannenbaum, describing how to incorporate the technology into the Universal Design for Learning framework. Tannenbaum details how educators can quickly tailor activities and prompts to foster engagement, representation and action.

Disability advocates in New Hampshire have rallied against recent federal cuts to special education, following the Trump administration's layoffs of 466 employees from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services as part of a broader effort to shift education policy to the states. "Students with disabilities are students. They're not just people with disabilities. They are students first," says Louis Esposito, executive director of ABLE NH, which organized the rally.

A federal judge has ruled that employees laid off during the Education Department's recent staff cuts can keep their jobs for now. Judge Susan Illston said that the unions that sued are likely to prove the layoffs were unlawful and politically motivated. The ruling requires the staff to return to work after the government shutdown ends.