Parents often notice school budget cuts after a program disappears or a familiar staff member is suddenly gone. But in many districts, reductions to special education services can happen more quietly, through staffing changes, delayed evaluations, or scaled-back support that does not make major headlines. As schools face enrollment declines, labor shortages, and rising costs, special education budgets are increasingly under pressure. That matters because millions of U.S. students rely on individualized supports to learn safely and successfully.
