🔴Relating to special education in public schools, including funding for special education under the Foundation School Program.

🔴 SB 568: Overhauls Special Education Funding and Oversight

What it says it does:
SB 568 claims to improve funding for special education by replacing the old placement-based model with a new one based on the intensity of services a student receives. It adds new categories for funding, increases transportation reimbursements, and rebrands the Supplemental Special Education Services program to give parents more control.

What it actually changes:
The bill shifts special education funding into a new tiered system based on service intensity. It expands the commissioner’s power to approve contracts for residential placements and gives regional service centers a larger role. It also adds new compliance monitoring requirements for districts and allows private providers greater access to public funds.

Who is pushing for it:
Not in files.

Who benefits:
Private special education contractors, regional service centers, and larger districts with staff and infrastructure to meet compliance. The TEA commissioner gains more control over how funds are distributed and who is approved to receive them.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Smaller or rural districts with limited staff may struggle to comply with the new system. Parents who prefer district-provided services over private ones may see fewer public options. Local school boards lose power as more decisions move to the state level.

Why this matters long term:
This bill marks a move toward centralizing authority over special education at the state level. It opens the door for more privatized service contracts, and while it may increase short-term funding, it sets a precedent for shifting control away from local communities.

What to watch next:
How the new funding tiers are implemented, who gets approved for private placements, and whether districts see more audits or penalties under the new compliance rules. Watch for future bills that follow this model in other areas of public education.

Bottom line:
SB 568 changes how special education is funded, but it also shifts power away from local districts and increases opportunities for private entities to profit from public education. The structural risks go beyond funding—they reshape who decides what services students get.

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