State Support of Military Families with Special Education Needs

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Highly mobile children, including military children, are more likely to experience recurring educational disruptions and challenges accessing special education services, particularly those who need access to special education and related services. States can assist military families by ensuring timely establishment of services upon relocation and reducing procedural burdens.

Many military children with special education needs are disadvantaged in accessing services in a timely manner due to the frequency with which their families move. Children from military families change location, on average, every two to three years. States have enacted improvements to their education statutes to build upon existing requirements provided within the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

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Minimize Delays

CaliforniaMinimize DelaysAB 1412 05/22/2025 AB 1412 08/25/2025 AB 1412 10/07/2025

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CA Governor Newsom signed AB 1412 in October 2025, which will help to minimize delays for students transferring into the state with existing Individualized Education Programs (IEP) or Section 504 Plans. Effective January 1, 2026, this bill requires a local educational agency, within 30 days of receipt of official records or specified unofficial records, to either adopt and implement the individualized education program previously adopted for the pupil or develop, adopt, and implement a new individualized education program for the pupil that is consistent with federal and state law, if applicable. It also reiterates requirements under Advance Enrollment and Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children statutes to require school districts to accept hand-carried, unofficial copies of records provided by parents of military-connected students until official records are received from the sending school district.

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State Support of Military Families with Special Education Needs

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Analysis

Best Practices

Best Practice States

Minimize Delays

Reduce Burdens

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State Policymakers

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Key Issue Header

State Support of Military Families with Special Education Needs

Key Message

Analysis

Best Practices

Best Practice States

Minimize Delays

Reduce Burdens

Other Content

State Policymakers

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