Michigan parents push special education reform through new Senate bill
Supporters say proposal would strengthen training, transparency and protections for students with disabilities.
Two Michigan mothers are leading an effort to overhaul the state’s special education system, saying too many families struggle to secure services their children are already entitled to under federal law.
Carrie Dickerson and Maria Giancotti helped write Senate Bill 952 after navigating the special education process with their own children. They say their experiences exposed gaps in educator training, inconsistent implementation of federal law and costly barriers for families seeking help.
The legislation would require a portion of existing professional development hours for educators to focus on federal special education law, increase transparency through expanded public reporting and strengthen competency requirements for school administrators involved in special education decisions.
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The bill also proposes changes to Michigan’s complaint process by allowing the Michigan Department of Education to notify school districts after a complaint is filed, rather than requiring parents to do so themselves. Supporters say the change would help reduce concerns about retaliation while preserving districts’ ability to respond.
Another provision would strengthen oversight of student expulsions involving children with disabilities by reinforcing existing legal procedures and requiring trained personnel to review those decisions.
Dickerson and Giancotti say the proposal is intended to improve outcomes for students while giving teachers and administrators the training they need to properly implement federal special education law.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Bellino, was introduced earlier this year and supporters are encouraging residents to contact members of the Senate Education Committee and the State Board of Education in support of a committee hearing.
According to the advocates, roughly 217,000 Michigan students currently receive services through Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, with additional students receiving accommodations through Section 504 plans.
They say their goal is to begin a broader conversation about improving special education across Michigan, even if the legislation is ultimately revised as it moves through the legislative process.