Advocacy: Spring 2025

CAPSES leadership has stayed on top of issues that impact NPS and NPAs this legislative season. 

• CAPSES has been informing its members of the State Budget developments. You can find the different information on our website's blog: https://www.capses.net/blog

• CAPSES met with the office of Senator Grove regarding her bill, SB373, to provide input and expert opinion on how to strengthen the bill in a way that supports its intent.

• CAPSES recently met with Assemblymember Josh Hoover for a meaningful conversation on special education and the work of CAPSES. The meeting was an opportunity to share insights, discuss current challenges, and highlight policy priorities that impact students with disabilities across the state.

  CAPSES extends its sincere thanks to Assemblymember Hoover for his warm hospitality and for his leadership as Vice Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, as well as through his work on the Select Committees on Students with Disabilities and Youth Mental Health.

  His strong commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality, inclusive education for all students is deeply appreciated. CAPSES is especially grateful for his support of AB 1009 and AB 1224—two important measures that aim to address the special education workforce shortage and bolster support for the professionals who serve California’s most vulnerable learners.

• The CAPSES Government Affairs team recently held a productive Zoom meet-and-greet with State Board of Education team members Kate Dove and Rigel Spencer Massaro. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to build relationships and discuss shared goals in support of students and educators across California.

• The CAPSES Government Affairs team will continue to meet with the various lawmakers of the Education Committee from both houses, ACSE (Advisory Committee for Special Education) and California State Board of Education in the upcoming months. 

• We've been monitoring the new ruling that allows the CDE to include religious schools for special education placements, by letting schools apply for NPS certification. Plaintiffs say the settlement is a “win for religious liberty,” but public school advocates are concerned about the use of tax dollars for religious education.

• CAPSEs invites the community to learn more and support coalition of education, disability, and other organizations dedicated to fulfilling the funding promise for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  https://www.ideafullfunding.org/

• Council of Affiliated State Associations (CASA). CAPSES is a member of NAPSEC's Council of Affiliated State Associations, which convenes other state associations across our nation. During 2025, we've been meeting with more regularity given the changing legislation and funding, as well as other issues that impact our services, such as immigration changes. CASA will assists state associations in facilitating the availability and accessibility of private special education services for children with disabilities through improved advocacy, public policy development, and legislative expertise. CASA provides input and response from the states on public policy and legislation to NAPSEC and make recommendation to the NAPSEC Board of Directors, through its Chairperson, regarding all matters affecting CASA.