Petition to Florida Lawmakers: Urgent Changes Needed to House Bill 255 (Statute 1003.572) for Equitable Access to ABA Therapy in Public Schools

In 2013, Senate Bill 1108 was passed, allowing private instructional personnel to provide services in Florida’s public schools. In 2022, House Bill 255 expanded this to include Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), authorizing them to deliver Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in schools. ABA therapy is considered the gold standard treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. However, the vague language in the statute has created barriers, leading many schools to deny, remove, or severely restrict students access to ABA therapy—a medically necessary treatment -that is covered by health insurance, prescribed by medical professionals, and provided by parents to schools for FREE!

Despite the law, a lack of clear district policies and too much discretion given to principals has resulted in inconsistencies in schools, ultimately harming our children with disabilities. The statute states that private personnel MUST be allowed to observe, collaborate, and provide services in the educational setting, yet the requirement for "public instructional personnel and principal consent to the time and place" has caused widespread denial or severely restricted access to therapy. This ambiguity is causing chaos in districts statewide, leaving children without critical, and potentially life-changing support.

In the public school setting, ABA is designed to improve socially significant behaviors in students with autism and other developmental disabilities. ABA involves 1-on-1 support, helping students develop independence, communication, social, and academic skills while addressing challenging behaviors through the use of positive reinforcement. ABA reduces disruptions while supporting positive behaviors- ultimately benefitting the teacher, student, and the entire class!

Furthermore, in Florida, the "Parents' Bill of Rights" protects the rights of parents to make decisions about their child's education and health care. Yet, statute 1003.572 allows for principals and teachers (against the parents will) to make medical decisions for special needs students by denying, restricting, or removing access to this vital therapy. 

Adding to the urgency, Florida currently faces a critical teacher shortage, particularly in special education. Teachers are overworked, underpaid, and burnt out, and schools are understaffed. ABA therapy provides essential 1-on-1 support for students with special needs, relieving some of the burden on teachers.

We are calling on Florida lawmakers to:

1) Remove the discretion allowing principals and teachers to control the time and place of ABA services.
2) Define the “educational setting” to include the classroom during core instructional time.
3) Require school districts to implement clear policies and procedures for ABA services in compliance with the statute.
4) Establish consequences for districts that fail to comply with the law.
5) Ensure that reasonable therapy hours recommended by medical professionals are honored in the school setting.

We urge parents, caretakers, providers, advocates, and educators to sign this petition and ask that state legislators act NOW to revise the law, ensuring that every child with autism has access to ABA therapy in every public school across Florida.

Link to the statute.

Sign this petition TODAY to help ensure equal access to life-changing therapy for all students.

Join Project ABA Rights : A coalition of parents, providers, special education advocates, and educators advocating for ABA in our public schools.