FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: James Canning
313-580-2845 / jcanning@sandi.net
Editor Note:
Link to high resolution video of press conference
Attached are funding and enrollment charts, along with a press release
SD UNIFIED TO PUSH FEDS & STATE TO PROPERLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION,
AND WORK ON FIXING SYSTEMIC ISSUES WITH DISTRICT SPECIAL EDUCATION
Underfunding of Special Education from Federal and State Governments Puts Financial Strain on District
Superintendent Announces Special Education Challenges School District Will Tackle
SAN DIEGO (DECEMBER 9, 2025) – San Diego Unified School District leaders, parents, students, and advocates joined together today to announce their vision for the future of special education for the school district, efforts to fight for more special education funding at the state and federal levels of government and work collaboratively to fix systemic challenges that have faced special education and affected student outcomes for decades.
During a press conference Eugene Brucker Education Center, Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Ph.D. outlined the vision for the future of Special Education at San Diego Unified, which includes solidifying continuum of services and supports for students, including those with disabilities, Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), and improved early intervention practices.
"Our Special Education system has been strained for decades, and our families, educators, and students deserve better," said Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Ph.D. "While underfunding remains a major barrier, we are owning our responsibility to fix decades-long systemic challenges that are within our district's control. We will continue the work we have already started to stabilize our special education staffing, strengthen support for educators, and build systems that will last. But we cannot do this alone—federal and state leaders have a legal and moral obligation to honor their promises to our students.
We are redesigning our system with one purpose: to ensure every student with a disability has access to meaningful learning, timely support, and a safe, inclusive environment."
With the support of San Diego Unified's Executive Director of Special Education Angelia Watkins, Ed.D., the Chair of the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education Sarah Kieffer, and several Board of Education Trustees, including Richard Barrera, Cody Petterson and Shana Hazan, Superintendent Bagula introduced a list of systemic challenges they will tackle, including:
- Address Underfunding of Special Education by the Federal & State Governments
- Advocate for the state of California to make Investments in behavioral health supports and early interventions; and our Federal advocacy will include working to secure increases in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding.
- Develop Strategies for Inclusive Practices and Meaningful Access
- Next year place a greater emphasis on teamwork between general education teachers and special education teachers to improve coordination
- Build Stronger Transition Planning and Pathways for Special Education Students
- Develop a new approach by working with our Office of Graduation and community partners.
- Solidify Continuum of Services for Students with or without Special Education Needs
- Work to strengthen early support and prevention so students get help before learning gaps widen or behavior concerns increase by better leveraging staffing resources.
- Overhaul Educator Credentialing to Allow More Flexibility for serving Students with Special Education Needs
- Solve Over-Identification of Students for Special Education Services
- Work to ensure that we have appropriate referrals and identification of students for special education services.
Other improvements the district will work on are:
- Challenge the Doctor Prescription Process for Individualized Education Plans (IEP)
- Improve Data Systems to Track Progress of Special Education Students
- Enhance Site Safety Plans for Special Education Students
- Address Educator Turnover / Burnout
"Our families deserve a special education system they can trust—one that identifies needs accurately, communicates clearly, and delivers services without delay," said Watkins. "We are rebuilding foundations that should have been strengthened years ago. The commitment across the district is real, and we are already seeing positive results."
"That's why we're here to support them, this partnership between district leaders, educators, and families is so important," said Kieffer. "We can—and we will—push for change at the state and federal levels. And we will work hand in hand with each other to strengthen the system inside our district. Our children deserve the education they were promised and today, I see leadership willing to build that system."
Over 18% of San Diego Unified students have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and receive special education services, one of the highest rates in California. While the number of students requiring services has surged over the last decade, federal special education funding has not kept pace. The district receives approximately $125 million annually from state and local funding sources, which also includes just $30 million from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When Congress passed the IDEA, it promised to fund 40% of the excess cost of special education. That promise has never been kept, not once in its nearly 50-year history.
While the district is taking major steps to improve internal systems, underfunding remains a major barrier. Federal law mandates special education services but has never fully funded them, leaving districts nationwide to absorb massive budget shortfalls. San Diego Unified is underfunded by more than $300 million each year—forcing the San Diego Unified to backfill the gap with other educational dollars.
"Without strong and consistent federal and state funding for special education, our students are the ones who bear the burden—and that is unacceptable," said Barrera. "Every student deserves the support that allows them to learn, thrive, and be seen. I am committed to fighting for the resources our educators and families need, and I will not step back until every student gets the services they are owed."
In 2023, Dr. Bagula appointed a new Executive Director of Special Education to stabilize the department and begin to gameplan addressing long-standing issues. Since then, the district has launched a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening support for students, educators, and families.
The announcements made on December 9, 2025 will build upon actions that have already been taken, including:
1. Addressing Special Education Staffing Shortages
- Expanded San Diego Unified's paraeducator-to-teacher pipeline via "grow your own" programs
- Offered reimbursement for general education teachers pursuing special education credentials
- Developed intern partnerships with local universities
2. Improving Early Behavioral and Social-Emotional Supports
- Implemented Pyramid Model training for TK, kindergarten, and early childhood educators
- Added Behavior Support Resource coaching cycles at school sites
- Increased elementary counselor staffing to expand social-emotional support
To learn more about San Diego Unified's Special Education Services, click here, and to get involved in the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education, click here.
| | James Canning (He/Him) Executive Director Strategic Communications & Information San Diego Unified School District Mobile: 313-580-2845 Office: 619-725-5578 Email: Jcanning@sandi.net 4100 Normal Street San Diego, CA 92103
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