The Hard Truth About Special Education

Some say the special education system is broken and the changes being forced onto the Department of Education by Trump and Musk are not helping. The system is certainly dysfunctional, ignored, and non-compliant. For the 14% of children in special education, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Most of these children—90% of whom do not have severe disabilities—are being let down by a system, when implemented as intended with fidelity is designed to and can quite effectively help them and give real hope for functional outcomes.

As parents, educators, and advocates, you see this every day:

• Inadequate evaluations.
• Legally sufficient IEPs that fail to deliver results.
• A lack of research-based instruction and proper progress monitoring.

The consequences are staggering:

• Graduation rates for students with disabilities hover at a low 68%.
• 50-78% of incarcerated juveniles have learning disabilities.
• Unaddressed learning disabilities lead to behavioral problems, addiction, and high school dropouts who are 8 times more likely to end up in prison.

But there is hope. This blog will not only address the systemic problems but provide actionable solutions to help you advocate effectively for students.

The Problem: Why the System Fails Students with Disabilities

The special education system isn’t failing because of a lack of laws—it’s failing because of poor accountability, inconsistent implementation, and systemic barriers.

What the System Doesn’t Deliver

• Appropriate Evaluations: Many schools fail to identify educational needs accurately, leading to misdiagnoses or complete oversight of disabilities.
• Specially Designed Instruction: Even when IEPs are in place, they often lack research-based interventions tailored to the child’s specific needs.
• Fidelity of Implementation: Schools may have written IEPs but fail to implement them as intended, leaving students without the tools they need to succeed.

How It Affects Students

• Negative Outcomes:
• Students pushed through the system without proper support often drop out, struggle with employment, or face lifelong challenges.
• Segregation from non-disabled peers prevents the development of essential social skills.
• Positive Possibilities (When Done Right):
• Research-based IEPs and proper support can close the educational gap, enabling students to graduate, pursue higher education, and thrive in life.

The Solution: How to Get Beyond "Legally Sufficient" IEPs

The goal isn’t just to comply with the law—it’s to ensure students receive an education that meets their needs and prepares them for the future.

Step 1: Understand the IEP Development Process

An effective IEP must:

1. Be based on accurate, thorough evaluations that identify all areas of need—academic, functional, and behavioral.
2. Include specific, measurable goals tied to research-based interventions.
3. Be implemented with fidelity and monitored for progress.

Step 2: Demand Research-Based Interventions

Schools are required to provide interventions backed by research. Parents and advocates should ask:

• What evidence supports this program?
• How will the school track progress?
• What happens if the intervention isn’t working?

Step 3: Use Data and Experts to Advocate

Advocates trained through programs like NSEAI’s BCEA have the interdisciplinary knowledge to:

• Translate complex evaluations into actionable educational strategies.
• Hold schools accountable for delivering appropriate services.

Why Parents, Educators, and Advocates Need Training

Parents are expected to participate as equal members of the IEP team, but they often lack the training to do so effectively. Similarly, educators and advocates may struggle to navigate the complex web of laws, regulations, and best practices that govern special education.

That’s where organizations like NSEAI.org come in. The BCEA program provides comprehensive cross-training to empower advocates to:

• Identify educational needs.
• Demand appropriate services.
• Ensure IEPs are written and implemented effectively.

What’s at Stake: The Cost of Inaction

If schools fail to provide appropriate IEPs:

• Students will continue to fall behind, stuck in a cycle of low achievement and limited opportunities.
• Families will face frustration, financial strain, and emotional distress.
• Society will bear the long-term costs of incarceration, unemployment, and addiction.

But with the right training and advocacy, every student can succeed.

 You Have the Power to Change Lives

As Marie Lewis from NSEAI.org says:

“The IEP process isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s about delivering real outcomes for students—outcomes that change lives.”

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or advocate, you have the power to transform the special education system. By demanding appropriate evaluations, research-based interventions, and fidelity of implementation, you can help close the educational gap and set students on a path to success.

NSEAI's online courses efficiently lead parents and professionals to an expert level of education advocacy in just 12 days of on-demand courses that you can do at your convenience.

OUR CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WASTE.

LEARN TO DEVELOP A CHILD FOCUSED IEP CORRECTLY FROM THE START 

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LEGALLY SUFFICIENT  TO HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IEPs

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AUTHOR

Marie Lewis is an author, consultant, and national speaker on best practices in education advocacy. She is a parent of 3 children and a Disability Case Manager, Board Certified Education Advocate, and Behavior Specialist Consultant. She has assisted in the development of thousands of IEPs nationally and consults on developing appropriately individualized IEPs that are outcome-based vs legally sufficient. She brings a great depth of expertise, practical experience, and compassion to her work as well as expert insight, vision, and systemic thinking. She is passionate and funny and she always inspires and informs.