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119-s-745119th CongressWALLET

Empowering Families in Special Education Act

Sponsored By: Senator Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

Introduced

Summary

Expands parents' right to include outside experts on their child's IEP team. This bill would require the local educational agency (LEA) that serves a child with a disability to notify parents, within a reasonable timeframe before the first IEP meeting of the upcoming school year, that they may invite other individuals with knowledge or special expertise about the child, including related services personnel as appropriate.

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  • Families and parents: Parents would receive clear, timely notice about their ability to add professionals to IEP meetings, making it easier to bring needed expertise.
  • Students: IEP teams could include more professionals with relevant knowledge, which may broaden the assessments and supports considered for the student's plan.
  • Schools and LEAs: LEAs would take on a new administrative duty to provide the required notification before the first IEP meeting each year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Schools must tell parents about IEP team

If enacted, your child's school would have to notify you before the first IEP meeting each school year. The notice would say you may include other people who know your child or have special expertise on the IEP team. It would also say related services staff can join when appropriate. This would be a procedural rule for local school districts and would not create new funding or penalties.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

MO • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 2/26/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/26/2025

  • Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 3/3/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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