290 Advocates Join Together to Press Congress on Education Funding, Educator Shortages, and School Mental Health

This week, hundreds of advocates from 46 states came together for the annual Special Education Legislative Summit, hosted by CEC and CASE. Participants attended a two-day conference that featured in-depth panel discussions about pressing issues facing the special education field- annual funding, educator shortages, and the mental health crisis in schools.

Keynote speaker Glenna Wright-Gallo, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services laid out her vision for attracting, preparing, retaining, and diversifying the special education workforce.

A special educator herself, she challenged practitioners to continue to raise expectations and improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and ask themselves, “what am I doing to remove barriers?” The summit culminated in hundreds of visits on Capitol Hill with legislators and their staff to discuss the federal role in solving pressing issues.

A roundup of SELS action can be found on social media with the hashtag #SELS2023

Action Alert: If you missed SELS, you can still advocate online!

Please visit CEC’s Legislative Action Center to send letters to your Congressional delegation urging them to take action on federal spending, educator shortages, and school mental health. All it takes is one click to join with others in collective action!