This year, the government has failed to provide the allotted funding for special education programs in California, breaking the promise made in the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
According to an article about rising costs and declining revenue, “The federal government has never fulfilled its promise to provide 40 percent of funding for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a 1975 law that requires schools to provide support for students with disabilities. It currently provides less than 13 percent” (edsource.org).
These cuts were made very clear around this time last year as well. According to an article from the National Education Association, “On March 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to abolish the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Although the Trump Administration cannot eliminate the department altogether without the support of Congress, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said soon after taking office that shrinking the department as much as possible was in effect its ‘final mission’” (nea.org).
Principal Mike Paredes said, “We should never back down from ensuring that there is equitable support for all of our students and staff. [With] UC High and throughout the district, there is a reason why they decided not to strike; it is in part because of the tentative agreement the district decided to provide funding for certain things that they were advocating for [including special education].”
Special Education Department Chair Jennifer Breeding said, “I have noticed that we are not properly staffed in special education, more specifically in our moderate/severe population. We do not have enough teachers or one-to-one support for those who need it. There is an overall fundamental problem with funding and structural support.”
Education Specialist Samantha Cruz said, “Governor Newsom’s newest proposed budget would withhold $5.6 billion in school funding guaranteed by prop 98, which will impact everything that our union (and other unions) fought for, and directly impacts our Special Education students.”
Paredes said, “I think the call really is for our state leaders to adequately provide the resources that our students need for them to be successful in their educational experience.”
Earlier this year, UC High was supposed to have a day off for a strike, but it was cancelled. According to the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), “One-day strike on February 26 is off as San Diego Unified School District and San Diego Education Association (SDEA) reach a mutual agreement on how to proceed with a contract. On February 12, 2026 the two sides came to agreements on several bargained subjects including special education and wages. SDEA will take the agreement to its membership for a ratification vote” (sandiegounified.org).
According to the SDEA, possible fixes for special education staffing are penalty payments, annual stipends, additional case management days, as well as reimbursing employees who get a new special education credential. All of these fixes will help with hiring and staff retention. These new measures were put into place after the employees won a settlement for the Unfair Labor Practice over Special Education staffing (sdea.net).
“I am sad and upset for the staff and students who are not receiving and providing the best for our students. I would like to see parents be more supportive of the schools rather than place blame. We are doing the best we can, given what we have to work with. The burnout rate for SPED teachers and SPED support is high for this reason,” said Breeding.
Cruz said, “As a Special Education Teacher, I am upset and angry on behalf of my colleagues and students. Ultimately, this affects our students who are the most vulnerable and need what they are legally entitled to. When educators don’t get what they need to function, students don’t either; that also includes students without disabilities.”