Category: News in the Field

U.S. Senators Act to Bar Mass Layoffs During Government Shutdown (November 9, 2025)

On November 6, 2025, six U.S. Senators introduced the Securing Assurance for Federal Employees (SAFE) Act, legislation to explicitly prohibit the federal government from carrying out reductions in force (RIFs) during a lapse in appropriations. The bill would also reverse RIF actions taken during the current government shutdown.

The SAFE Act comes in response to recent efforts by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to initiate thousands of RIFs during the ongoing shutdown – an unprecedented step that a federal judge has already said appears “politically motivated,” illegal, and “arbitrary and capricious.”

More than 4,000 federal employees have received RIF notices since early October. While the court has temporarily blocked these actions, the threat remains for many other federal employees serving the American public without pay during this shutdown.

Current law does not permit agencies to conduct RIFs during a lapse in appropriations. This bill reaffirms and makes explicit Congress’s intent that no administration may use a shutdown as a pretext to initiate layoffs. The SAFE Act makes clear that such actions have no legal force and ensures federal workers cannot be targeted for job cuts during a funding lapse.

The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Education Association (NEA), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

All those sponsoring the bill are Democrats.

Read the full bill here.

Introducing the Act 1 Graduation Plan Toolkit: A Framework for Timely Graduation (November 8, 2025)

Webinar: November 21, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Navigating graduation requirements for students experiencing school instability can be complex, but Pennsylvania’s Act 1 and a well-designed Graduation Plan offer clear pathways to academic success. This session introduces participants to the new Act 1 Graduation Plan Toolkit, a practical resource designed to help school entities develop Graduation Plans for eligible students. The toolkit includes guidance on key components to include in the plan, strategies to streamline credit assessment, guidance to support decision-making, and a tool to empower students in the development of their own plan. Participants will explore the toolkit’s key features and functions, including its grade-level Graduation Plan template.

Register for “Introducing the Act 1 Graduation Plan Toolkit.”

In Response to Executive Order, Pediatricians Release Videos to Explain Importance of Vaccines (November 8, 2025)

 In October, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2025-02 to safeguard vaccine access for Pennsylvanians and address any confusion caused by recent federal actions regarding vaccine safety and availability — and health care providers, especially pediatricians, are voicing their support for the Governor’s efforts to safeguard vaccine access. 

The Executive Order directs the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) to establish a state-based safety net to protect children’s vaccine access and ensures all state agencies align policies with trusted medical experts, including:

  • Launching a central online vaccine portal
  • Creating a Vaccine Education Workgroup to strengthen public communication and combat misinformation
  • Ensuring continued coverage of recommended vaccines for all Pennsylvanians through Medicaid and private insurance
  • Directing the Departments of Aging and Education to support older adults and schools in following evidence-based vaccine guidance

To those ends, watch Geisinger Women and Children’s Institute Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Frank Maffei and watch St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Renee Turchi discuss why protecting vaccine access is critical for Pennsylvania children.

Use of AI to Create IEPs and 504 Plans is on the Rise, But There Are Risks Involved (November 7, 2025)

According to a white paper from the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), teachers are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support students with disabilities in ways that save time for educators and provide best practices for interventions and clear communication for students and parents. In fact, almost 60% of special education teachers reported using AI to develop an IEP or Section 504 plan during the 2024-25 school year.

However, in doing so there are risks in using AI to craft individualized education programs, including potential violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and privacy laws, as well as possible introduction of inaccuracies and biases. Teachers should be cautious about entering identifiable information of students into AI tools, especially when using ones not vetted and approved by their school system.

According to CDT, although many feel this is an effective and efficient way to create these documents, the risks involved include legal and privacy liabilities. For example, IDEA requires each IEP to be unique and tailored to each students’ disabilities, goals and process for achieving their goals. An AI tool that develops IEPs based on little student-specific information and that is not significantly reviewed and edited by a teacher likely would not meet these IDEA requirements.

Educators and school systems should also be aware of privacy rules under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), IDEA and other state-level privacy policies when using AI tools. Further, any student information included in a query to a chatbot can be collected and likely stored by the chatbot company. In addition, the privacy risks and chance of violating FERPA vary depending on factors like the chatbot version being used and whether the school or district has agreements with vendors that license purpose-built tools, which may have more privacy protections. For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

PDE to Begin Collecting Applications for Sp. Ed. Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses on Nov. 17th (October 29, 2025)

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will begin accepting applications for the Special Education Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses on , 2025. The fund’s purpose is to provide additional state funding for the implementation of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a student with significant disabilities. Interested local educational agencies (LEAs) will have until , 2026, to apply.

The application and review process for the 2025-2026 school year is specified in the Contingency Funds Guidelines. Applications for the Special Education Contingency Funds must be submitted electronically through the contingency funds request system website.

Questions regarding Special Education Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses should be directed to Janette Fulton, Special Education Adviser, Division of Analysis and Financial Reporting, at 717.425.5442 or janfulton@pa.gov.