We have disappointing news to share with our community. Senate Bill 863, the Prince George's County Special Education Service Delivery, Transparency, and Accountability Act, has been withdrawn without cause.

Despite clear data showing systemic failures and the urgent need for a third-party audit of our special education department, this emergency measure will not proceed this session. This legislation was designed to provide the oversight we desperately need, to track missed service minutes, to address the vacancy crisis for one-to-one aides, and to create transparency for families who have been left in the dark for far too long.

 
Why This Matters
For many of us, this isn't just about a bill; it's about our daily reality. Many families have already been forced to flee Prince George's County Public Schools because their children were denied the services and accommodations clearly demonstrated as necessary by their own data.

Justice should not be "nearly impossible" to receive. Currently, the system places an overwhelming burden of proof on families, many of whom do not have the specialized knowledge of special education law or the complex documentation required to win a fight against a massive school system.

The Fight Continues
While this legislative setback is frustrating, it highlights exactly why our advocacy must intensify.

Legislative Conflicts: We cannot ignore that many senators on the Education Committee receive substantial donations from teacher and administrator unions and board of education associations. When these financial ties lead to a failure to advocate for our students during the session, it is a clear conflict of interest that continues to go unchecked.

Our Voices Are the Only Shield: Legislators may fail to act, but we cannot afford to be silent. We are the ones who see the impact of missed services on our children’s progress every single day.
 
What You Can Do Now
Keep Documenting: Continue to track every missed service, every unfilled aide position, and every delayed IEP meeting. Data is our greatest weapon when the system tries to claim there isn't a problem.

Contact the Committee: Reach out to the members of the Education, Energy, and Environment Committee. Ask them why a bill aimed at transparency and accountability was allowed to disappear without a fight.

Share Your Story: Our strength is in our numbers. Continue to share your experiences on this platform to show that we are not isolated cases, but a community demanding systemic change.

We are not going anywhere. If the system won't hold itself accountable, we will.