Not enough children with learning disabilities receive the help they need, and those who do receive adequate help, like my* younger brother, Maxwell, is in danger of losing this support. Many statistics showcase how students with learning disabilities struggle to adapt and are punished because they act out due to feeling insecure or “dumb” because they cannot learn in the format being used within a classroom. 20% of children have learning disabilities, of those, 8.5% receive formal help through plans like IEP’s or 504’s. These students are also twice as likely to be disciplined by teachers with punishments such as suspensions. These statistics, provided by the Learning Disabilities Association of America, describe a life that many children are forced to go through, simply due to inadequate care based on their disabilities. I myself have seen my brother struggling to solve and answer equations on his homework each night, with my parents struggling to help due to them not understanding the new methods, seeing him come home with notes about behavioral issues. Although I know that not every case is like my brother, I’m aware that this means that some cases are even more difficult to handle and are still receiving less support from my brother. Around 40,000 students in Massachusetts have learning disabilities; that’s thousands of bright children who may never get the chance to showcase their potential simply because they think differently and the world is unsure of how to handle it. 

The main challenge for children with disabilities is their declining access to educational opportunities. It is of pivotal importance that early childhood programs and schools are able to successfully provide and support the needs of these students. Massive spikes in inflation, reliance on property taxes, and declining enrollment rates have caused decisionmakers of the state to underfund systems of education. Though the proposed Massachusetts FY27 budget invests a record $7.66 billion for public education aid per The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it is now not enough to meet the needs of not just disabled, but all students, as the budget is unable to keep up with rising costs; Because of this, it is important that the attention of the Massachusetts state legislature, DESE and Board of Education are brought to this matter. We demand for an increase in funding for alternative learning programs across the state.

If this issue continues to be overlooked, educators will be laid off, materials will become scarce, and disabled children relying on special education programs will not be able to continue with rising costs. This issue had not just appeared, but had been building up for many years. Now is more important than ever, as the academic future of disabled children will be at stake. Children with disabilities are already more likely to achieve lower academic outcomes and face more difficulties when transitioning to higher levels of education. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of America, students with SLD (Specific Learning Disorders) are three times more likely to drop out of school than students that do not retain these conditions. This, in turn, can have a result on child development and outcome, including the long term impact on the child’s future if education is not a factor that can constantly assist the needs of these students. We must speak out for the future of our children and the children who are in need of academic assistance. If the reimbursement rate for special education and school transportation can be raised, a boost in Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), as well as more attention drawn to Bill S.400, a bill currently on hold relating to equitable funding for public education, we can push these reforms to transform the FY27 into something that can bring relief to disabled students across Massachusetts.

 The people of the public are running out of time to act, if you wish to see the change, you must be the change, and soon. The budget allocated to assisting children with learning disabilities is soon going to be finalized, in less than a month. As stated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the final budget goes into effect on July 1st, 2026, when the Fiscal Year begins. This means that there is little time to act. The future of over 170,000 children with disabilities are at stake, and their education falls on the hands of the people– Including you. 

Sign our petition today, for the children.

Contact information: Dept. of Education (1-800-USA-LEARN) usa_learn@ed.gov