Empowering Families in Special Education Act

Senate Bill

S. 745

119th Congress

Empowering Families in Special Education Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 26, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Eric Stephen Schmitt

Senator

Republican

MO

Cosponsors

4

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Education

Summary

This bill requires school districts to notify parents of children with disabilities about their right to include additional individuals with relevant knowledge on their IEP team. Parents can bring advocates, specialists, or others who understand their child to help develop appropriate educational plans.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires school districts to notify parents of children with disabilities about their right to include additional individuals with relevant knowledge on their IEP team. Parents can bring advocates, specialists, or others who understand their child to help develop appropriate educational plans.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Empowering Families in Special Education ActThis bill establishes a notification requirement related to an individualized education program (IEP). (Generally, IEPs are individualized plans to ensure that a child with a disability receives a free appropriate public education.)Under current law, states and local educational agencies (LEAs) must convene a team to develop an IEP. The composition of the team that develops the IEP is outlined in current law and allows for other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child (including related services personnel, as appropriate) to participate in this team. This bill requires the LEA that serves the child to notify the child's parents of their right to include these other individuals with knowledge or special expertise on the child's IEP team.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Mandates notification of parental rights regarding IEP team composition
Allows parents to bring advocates and specialists to IEP meetings
Applies to students receiving special education services
Aims to empower families in educational decision-making
Builds on existing IDEA framework for individualized education programs

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Parents of children with disabilities would receive clear notification that they can bring therapists, advocates, tutors, or other knowledgeable individuals to IEP meetings. This empowers families to better advocate for appropriate educational services.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Education

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

745, 119th Congress (2025). "Empowering Families in Special Education Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-745