Education Across the States

Virginia's new child care affordability report prices closing a one hundred forty thousand slot gap at up to four point five billion dollars a year, with three costed options and a December budget decision ahead.

Sources:

- Virginia Mercury, 'Closing Virginia'\''s child care affordability gap could cost up to 4.5B per year' (October 20, 2026), republished by Fredericksburg Free Press: https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2026/10/20/closing-virginias-child-care-affordability-gap-could-cost-up-to-4-5b-per-year/

- Same Virginia Mercury report republished by Warren County News: https://warrencountyva.com/2026/10/22/closing-virginias-child-care-affordability-gap-could-cost-up-to-gap-4-5b-a-year/

- Virginia Department of Education child care funding summit, October 14, 2026, Peake Childhood Center, Newport News, as reported in the Mercury story above. To verify the underlying VDOE report: go to doe.virginia.gov, open Early Childhood Care and Education, and search for the General Assembly-directed child care demand and funding report described in the Mercury story.

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New York will keep fully funding free breakfast and lunch for every student — about two point five million meals a day — even as federal food assistance is cut, and the state's universal design is exactly why the cuts do not reach the cafeteria.

Sources:

- Governor Kathy Hochul, 'Protecting Free School Meals From Federal Cuts,' announcement, October 26, 2026 (governor's office release via EIN Presswire): https://corporategovernance.einnews.com/pr_news/952347727/protecting-free-school-meals-from-federal-cuts

- Governor Kathy Hochul, 'Governor Hochul Announces 396 Million Free School Meals Served Statewide In 2025-2026 School Year,' June 26, 2026 (via LongIsland.com): https://www.longisland.com/news/06-26-26/governor-hochul-announces-396-million-free-school-meals-served-statewide-in-2025-2026-school-year.html

- Washington Post, October 22, 2026, reporting on free lunch programs and SNAP cuts rippling through schools in other states — cited in the governor's October 26 announcement; no stable URL: search washingtonpost.com for 'free lunch programs vanish bills climb SNAP cuts ripple through schools' (October 22, 2026)

- New York State Education Department, Child Nutrition program information for families: https://www.cn.nysed.gov

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A plain-English, section-by-section walkthrough of COMAR 13A.05.01, Maryland's FAPE chapter, covering child find, the 60-day and 90-day evaluation clocks, IEP team, document, and LRE rules, Maryland's seven-factor ESY test, transition at age 14, and the full procedural safeguards sequence through nonpublic placements. Sources: COMAR 13A.05.01 official text, Library of Maryland Regulations https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/13A.05.01.15 and https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/13A.05.01.12 ; Cornell LII mirrors https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maryland/COMAR-13A-05-01-06 , https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maryland/COMAR-13A-05-01-08 , and https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maryland/COMAR-13A-05-01-09 ; MSDE Maryland Statewide IEP Process Guide, July 2025 https://msde.maryland.gov/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/MITP/about/IEP-Process-Guide-A.pdf ; MSDE State Board item on COMAR 13A.05.01.08, March 2026 https://www.marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/EdPolicyCommittee/20260312/COMAR-13A.05.01.08-Individualized-Education-Program-IEP-Team-Responsibilities-A.pdf . To verify any section without a stable URL: search the Library of Maryland Regulations for COMAR 13A.05.01 followed by the regulation number (for example 13A.05.01.10 for Least Restrictive Environment), or search marylandpublicschools.org for the MSDE IEP Process Guide July 2025.

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A 60-minute plain-English walkthrough of Kansas Administrative Regulations Article 91-40, Special Education — definitions including gifted exceptional children, FAPE, child find and general education intervention, the 60 school-day evaluation timeline, IEP and least restrictive environment rules, private schools, discipline, and procedural safeguards, and how the article interacts with IDEA and 34 CFR Part 300.

Sources:

- Kansas Administrative Regulations, Agency 91, Article 40 (K.A.R. 91-40-1 through 91-40-52), via Kansas Secretary of State / Justia and Cornell LII regulation texts, including 91-40-1 definitions, 91-40-2 FAPE, 91-40-3 ancillary FAPE requirements, 91-40-7 child find, 91-40-8 evaluations, 91-40-9 evaluation procedures, 91-40-10 eligibility determination, 91-40-16 IEP requirements, 91-40-21 educational placement, 91-40-36 discipline services, 91-40-41 private school placement by parents, and 91-40-52 funding and facilities

- Kansas Special Education for Exceptional Children Act, K.S.A. 72-3404 definitions and K.S.A. 72-3429 IEP contents, Kansas Legislature

- Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), Kansas Special Education Process Handbook, Chapters 2-6 and 14 (child find/GEI, initial evaluation and eligibility, IEP, special education and related services, private schools)

- KSDE Special Education page: IDEA defines most rights, Kansas has state-imposed rules not required by IDEA

- KSDE Eligibility Indicators (revised July 2025), Gifted, K.A.R. 91-40-1(bb)

- 34 CFR Part 300, especially 300.111, 300.301, 300.306-300.311, 300.320-300.324, 300.114-300.117, 300.130-300.144, 300.502, 300.530-300.536

- Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District RE-1, 137 S. Ct. 988 (2017), as quoted in KSDE due process report 25DP450-002

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Mississippi's charter authorizer voted October 26 to move toward revoking the charter of SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy in Canton, whose third graders posted the highest charter reading pass rate in the state — a vote the school says contradicts the authorizer's own hearing record and audit evidence, reported here with the board's own account still unpublished.

Sources:

- SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy statement, 'Mississippi Votes to Close Its Top-Performing Charter School,' October 26, 2026 (school's account of the vote, hearing record, audit, and enrollment): https://www.sr1cpsa.org/post/mississippi-votes-to-close-its-top-performing-charter-school

- Same statement via EIN Presswire, October 26, 2026: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/952440137/mississippi-votes-to-close-its-top-performing-charter-school

- Mississippi Department of Education news release, 'MDE releases school and district accountability grades for 2025-26 school year under higher standards,' October 15, 2026 (eight of nine charter schools earned D or F): https://mdek12.org/communications/2026/10/15/mde-releases-school-and-district-accountability-grades-for-2025-26-school-year-under-higher-standards/

- Clarion Ledger, 'Clinton, Madison County earn top scores in state education grades,' October 15, 2026 (Canton Public School District grade C): https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/education/2026/10/15/new-mississippi-school-grades-released-for-2025-26-how-did-jackson-madison-rankin-schools-rate/92266494007/

- Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board statement on the vote: searched mdek12.org, mississippitoday.org, clarionledger.com, mpbonline.org, wlbt.com and the board's public pages on October 27, 2026 — no board statement or independent newsroom account of the vote was found at research time; the board's explanation will be reported when published.

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Fridley Public Schools faces a state warning over a missing 2024-25 audit and growing statutory operating debt, Minnesota nears its 400th solar-powered school, and Grand Rapids asks its community to verify it was heard.

Sources — KSTP / 5 Eyewitness News reporting on the Minnesota Department of Education warning to Fridley Public Schools (serious concerns, no completed 2024-25 audit, exact debt unknown), as summarized in the Fluence morning take, October 27, 2026: search kstp.com for Fridley Public Schools financial management MDE audit, or see thedailyagenda.com morning take for October 27, 2026 ; Fridley board presentation on the statutory operating debt plan, coding errors dating to 2017, approximately eight million dollars in statutory operating debt subject to audit revision: search citizenportal.ai for Fridley superintendent statutory operating debt plan audit delays coding errors ; Minnesota Statutes sections 123B.81 and 123B.83 (statutory operating debt definition, two and a half percent threshold, special operating plan): https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/123B.81 and search revisor.mn.gov for section 123B.83 ; Fridley October 1, 2026 enrollment report (down about 56 students): search citizenportal.ai for Fridley October 1 enrollment drop ; FOX 9, Minnesota nearing 400 solar-powered schools, 23 electric school buses purchased, October 24, 2026 (Department of Commerce figures: nearly 32.6 million dollars awarded or reserved, nearly 25 megawatts, more than 29 million kilowatt-hours a year, estimated 46 million dollars saved over 20 years, full applications due January 11, 2027): https://fox9.com/news/minnesota-nearing-400-solar-powered-schools-electric-school-bus-oct-24-2026 ; Minnesota Department of Commerce news release, State clean-energy investments help schools manage energy costs: https://mn.gov/commerce/media/news/?id=17-260808 ; Grand Rapids Area Schools community survey (open through November 1, 2026; results to the board November 9 and public November 10): https://www.grandrapidsmn.com/news/grand-rapids-area-schools-asking-for-community-input/article_152ac215-3eac-4f64-acec-25ca2d0659aa.html

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A plain-English, section-by-section walkthrough of 511 IAC 7-32, the 106 definitions that govern all of Indiana Article 7 special education, from consent, parent, and the case conference committee to specially designed instruction, related services, teacher of record, and transition services, with daily-work applications and the state-to-federal bridge to IDEA and 34 CFR Part 300.

Sources:

- Official Article 7 text (Title 511, Rules 32-49, Indiana State Board of Education / IDOE agency version, Dec 2014): https://lcsc.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2017/01/Article-7-Dec2014-january-2015-final-rule-update.pdf

- Official IAC source: Indiana Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Administrative Code, Title 511: https://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/ — verify by opening Title 511, Article 7, Rule 32.

- IDOE special education laws and resources (Article 7, 511 IAC 7-32 through 7-50): https://www.in.gov/doe/students/special-education/laws-and-resources

- 34 CFR 300.9 Consent: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/34/300.9

- 34 CFR 300.30 Parent (U.S. Dept. of Education IDEA site): https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/a/300.30

- OSEP Questions and Answers on Secondary Transition (transition services, 34 CFR 300.43): http://psnd.co/resources/148.pdf

- IN*SOURCE Parent Handbook (Article 7 and parent responsibilities, 511 IAC 7-32-70): https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2388/Ccs/0c20d635-b4ce-450b-99ad-ee02bd950bc1/INSOURCE_Parent_Handbook_Revised_2019.pdf?disposition=inline

- Catherine Michael, The Importance of Article 7, The Indiana Lawyer: https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/37092-michael-the-importance-of-article-7-of-the-ind-administrative-code

- Verification steps for items without a stable direct section URL: go to https://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/ , select Title 511, Article 7, Rule 32, and read sections 1-106 in order; for any single definition, search: 511 IAC 7-32-[section number] [term] site:law.cornell.edu

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Texas announced forty million dollars to four hundred eleven school systems through the new PREP teacher-pipeline allotment — what the residency, grow your own, and mentorship funding actually pays for, and why the state is paying for preparation after years of rising uncertified hiring.

Sources:

- Governor's office announcement, October 26, 2026, Governor Abbott Announces 40 Million Dollars to Strengthen the Texas Teacher Workforce (EIN Presswire release of the governor's press release): https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/952399825/governor-abbott-announces-40-million-to-strengthen-the-texas-teacher-workforce

- Texas Education Agency, Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnerships Program (PREP) Allotment page (five partnership types, LASO Cycle 4 and Cycle 5, funding via Foundation School Program): https://tea.texas.gov/educators/educator-initiatives-and-performance/educator-initiatives/preparing-and-retaining-educators-through-partnerships-program-prep-allotment

- Texas Education Agency, PREP Program Allotment funding chart and PREP Guidebook (residency 24,000-39,500 dollars, grow your own 8,000-12,000 dollars, mentorship 3,000 dollars, resident 20,000 dollar minimum pay and host teacher stipend): search tea.texas.gov for PREP Guidebook

- House Bill 2, 89th Texas Legislature, enrolled text (Texas Education Code Section 48.157 PREP Allotment, Section 48.310 literacy and mathematics academy allotment, repeal of the Mentor Program Allotment and Texas Teacher Residency Program, partnership performance-goal bar): https://capitol.texas.gov/billlookup/BillSummary.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2

- Learning Policy Institute, Teacher Certification in Texas brief (2026), analysis of Texas Education Agency data: uncertified teachers rose from 12,908 (3.5 percent) in 2020 to 42,103 in 2025, more than half in foundational subjects: http://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/tx-teacher-certification-brief

- Texas Education Agency, Teacher Employment, Attrition, and Hiring, published April 16, 2026: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/superintendents/teacher-employment-attrition-and-hiring-published-april-16-2026.pdf

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A plain-English, section-by-section walkthrough of Georgia Rule 160-4-7-.03, Child Find Procedures — the duty to identify, locate, and evaluate every suspected child with a disability from birth through age 21, all eight populations the rule names, the annual notice, the practical-method and data duties, and how Georgia's intervention expectations fit the federal bar on delaying evaluations.

Sources:

- Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations, Subject 160-4-7 Special Education (official text of Rule 160-4-7-.03): https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/160-4-7

- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-4-7-.03, Child Find Procedures (Cornell LII mirror of the rule text, including amendment history through Apr. 12, 2023): https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-160-4-7-.03

- 34 CFR 300.111, Child find (U.S. Department of Education, IDEA regulations site): https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/b/300.111

- OSEP Memo 11-07, Response to Intervention (RTI) Memo (Jan. 21, 2011) — an RTI process cannot be used to delay or deny an evaluation: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/idea-files/osep-memo-11-07-response-to-intervention-rti-memo/

- OSEP Dear Colleague Letter on IDEA for Students with Disabilities in Correctional Facilities (Dec. 5, 2014): https://sites.ed.gov/idea/idea-files/osep-dear-colleague-letter-on-the-individuals-with-disabilities-education-act-for-students-with-disabilities-in-correctional-facilities/

- GaDOE / Parent to Parent of Georgia, Fact Sheet: Child Find: https://www.p2pga.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GaDOE-P2P-Child-Find-Fact-Sheet-01.2019-final.pdf

- GaDOE GO-IEP guidance, Immediate Consideration (interventions before/during evaluation; preschool referrals): https://sped.gadoe.org/iephelpweb/ImmediateConsideration.html

- GaDOE, Early Childhood Transition Indicator 12 (Babies Can't Wait referrals): https://sped.gadoe.org/spdbhelpweb/EarlyChildhoodTransitionIndicato.html

- Understood.org, Child Find: What It Is and How It Works (plain-language explainer only, not legal authority): https://www.understood.org/en/articles/child-find-what-it-is-and-how-it-works

- To verify the Georgia Special Education Implementation Manual's Child Find chapter (no stable direct URL): go to gadoe.org, open Special Education Services and Supports, find the Implementation Manual, and open the Child Find chapter for Rule 160-4-7-.03; cross-check the current rule text at rules.sos.ga.gov under GAC 160-4-7.

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A plain-English, section-by-section walkthrough of 5-A DCMR § 3000, the one-sentence General Provisions section that makes Chapter 30 the District of Columbia's state-level special education rulebook implementing and supplementing IDEA Part B, 34 CFR Part 300, and District law — what implementing and supplementing mean in daily work for DCPS and charter LEAs, where District law goes further than the federal floor, and how to verify every rule against primary sources.

Sources:

- 5-A DCMR Chapter 30 full text (OSSE, version dated July 1, 2022) — §3000.1 and the whole chapter: https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/service_content/attachments/5-A%20DCMR%20Chapter%2030_Full%20Text.pdf

- OSSE Special Education Regulations page (Chapter 30 and Chapter 28 links, IDEA statute and Part B regulation links): https://osse.dc.gov/page/osse-special-education-regulations

- SY2026-27 OSSE Special Education Process Handbook (executive summary: handbook is non-regulatory guidance imposing no additional requirements beyond federal and local law and regulations): https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/publication/attachments/SY26-27%20OSSE%20Special%20Education%20Process%20Handbook.pdf

- 34 CFR § 300.1, Purposes of IDEA Part B regulations: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/34/300.1

- D.C. Official Code § 38-2571.03, Special Education Student Rights Act procedural safeguards (parent observation, document rights): https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/38-2571.03

- Center for Learner Equity, public comments on the proposed Chapter 30 amendments (submitted January 7, 2020): https://www.centerforlearnerequity.org/news/the-center-submits-comments-on-changing-osse-regulations/

- Verification without a stable URL: for D.C. Official Code § 38-2561.02 (assessment and placement; 60-day evaluation timeline), go to code.dccouncil.gov, search the citation 38-2561.02, and read the current code text. For rulemaking history, search the D.C. Register at dcregs.dc.gov for the November 8, 2019 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for 5-A DCMR Chapter 30 (66 DCR 014963) and the later second proposed and final rulemaking notices. For the current OSSE handbook and guidance, start at osse.dc.gov, open Services, then Special Education Laws and Regulations, and confirm the school-year date on the document before relying on it.

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