I support education funding legislation that meets the needs of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents, their families, and the educators who work on their behalf. Let Congress know that you do too at exceptionalchildren.org/takeaction. #SELS2022

Infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities deserve access to high-quality education, early intervention, and appropriate supports. I’m excited to participate in Virtual #SELS2022 and tell my Members of Congress why I’m #4SpecialEducation!

This week, I’m joining more than 200 special educators at #SELS2022 to advocate #4SpecialEducation funding, mental health, and special education personnel shortages with my Members of Congress. Join me at exceptionalchildren.org/takeaction.

After the disruptions of the last year, we need access to well-trained mental health professionals now more than ever. Tell Congress to support children and youth experiencing trauma, environmental stress, and mental health symptoms:  https://www.casecec.org/action-center #SELS2022

[TAG YOUR SENATORS], it’s time to invest in social and emotional health by providing additional funding for Safe Schools National Activities, ESSA Title IV Part A, and IDEA personnel preparation grants in FY 2023. #SELS2022

As schools look ahead to the new year & early intervention services continue, children & staff face tremendous mental health challenges. Let Congress know this requires an additional federal investment: https://bit.ly/3wDL2Tu. #SELS2022

Building a positive early childhood & school climate requires highly skilled school social workers, psychologists, & counselors. We need a strong federal investment to ensure a sufficient number of school-based mental health professionals trained to support ALL. #SELS2022

More than 40 years ago, Congress committed to providing 40% of the cost of educating students with disabilities. In 2022, they covered 13%. Tell your Members of Congress to support putting IDEA on the glidepath to full funding: funding:https://www.casecec.org/action-center. #SELS2022

Education only accounts for 2% of all federal spending, yet it is often the first area targeted for cuts. Who deserves investment more than our nation’s children? Tell Congress to support what matters most at https://bit.ly/3wDL2Tu. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

Strengthening public education ensures ALL students can access a high-quality education, regardless of background or disability. Tell Congress to keep public funds in #PublicEducation & invest in the millions of students in our public schools: https://bit.ly/3wDL2Tu. #SELS2022

Infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities participate in and benefit from ALL federal public education and early childhood programs. Tell Congress why fully funding IDEA is critical to their success: https://www.casecec.org/action-center. #SELS2022

Fully funding IDEA ensures that infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities can access educators trained to help them meet the highest possible outcomes. Tell Congress to act now and provide appropriate funding levels for FY 2023:  https://www.casecec.org/action-center. #SELS2022

Congress MUST invest in policies that attract, prepare, and retain a qualified special education workforce fully reflective of students’ racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity. Act now:  https://www.casecec.org/action-center. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

#DidYouKnow at least 48 states report a shortage of special education teachers? [TAG SENATOR], [STATE NAME] is on this list. How are you investing in special educator recruitment, preparation, and retention? #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

When it comes to the special educator shortage, we are in a national crisis. Tell Congress why we need a multi-pronged approach to attracting, preparing, and retaining educators with comprehensive strategies, funding options, and more: https://bit.ly/3wDL2Tu. #SELS2022

Every student deserves an equitable opportunity to achieve. By reducing cost and addressing other barriers to completing high-quality preparation programs, policymakers can ensure special educators are better prepared for successful, long-term careers. #SELS2022

Educators earn FAR less than other professionals requiring advanced degrees & often accrue significant debt to prepare for the profession. Increasing IDEA Part D funding & expanding federal loan payback opportunities can help address key barriers to entering the field. #SELS2022

Thank you [TAG YOUR REPRESENTATIVE or SENATOR] for supporting students with disabilities! We appreciate your leadership and commitment to the more than 7 million children & youth who rely on special education services each day. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation 

Thank you [TAG YOUR REPRESENTATIVE or SENATOR] for taking the time to meet with us to discuss education funding, mental health, and special education personnel shortages. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

The team from [STATE] just completed an amazing  meeting with [TAG YOUR REPRESENTATIVE or SENATOR]. Great conversations about mental health, special education funding, and special educator shortages. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

For virtual meetings

Thank you for meeting with us virtually and supporting the needs of children and youth in special education, [TAG YOUR REPRESENTATIVE or SENATOR]. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

Thank you [TAG YOUR REPRESENTATIVE or SENATOR] for taking the time to  meet with us virtually to discuss education funding, mental health, and special education personnel shortages. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

The team from [STATE] just completed an amazing virtual meeting with [TAG YOUR REPRESENTATIVE or SENATOR]. Great conversations about mental health, special education funding, and special educator shortages. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation  

As schools look ahead to the new year and early intervention services continue, children and staff face ongoing mental health challenges. This requires an additional federal investment to hire school-based mental health professionals, train staff, collaborate with community mental health services, and more. Tell Congress to support targeted funds #4SpecialEducation and let them know why good mental health is critical to academic achievement at exceptionalchildren.org/takeaction. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

Fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities can access educators trained to help them meet the highest possible outcomes. However, IDEA is chronically underfunded— we need YOUR help to make sure Congress supports appropriate levels of funding for the next fiscal year! Take action now by sending a message to your Member of Congress at https://www.casecec.org/action-center. #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation

Now more than ever, we need to develop a workforce pipeline to attract diverse personnel into all areas of special education, effectively prepare them, and retain them for long-term overall impact. By underwriting the cost and addressing other barriers to completing high-quality preparation programs, policymakers can ensure special education teachers and early intervention providers are better prepared for successful, long-term careers. Visit CEC’s Legislative Action Center at exceptionalchildren.org/takeaction to tell Congress why we need to develop a multi-pronged approach to attracting, preparing, and retaining educators with comprehensive strategies, funding options, professional learning opportunities, and more! #SELS2022 #4SpecialEducation