At Presence, we believe the best solutions start with listening.
Every day, school leaders are navigating increasing student needs, staffing shortages, funding pressures, and evolving expectations around service delivery. While the challenges facing special education are often discussed at a high level, the realities on the ground can vary significantly depending on a school’s size, location, governance model, and student population.
That’s why we regularly bring together leaders from across the education ecosystem to better understand what’s working, what’s not, and where innovation can help.
Presence recently convened a diverse group of education leaders, including state education agency officials, district superintendents, charter school leaders, virtual school operators, nonprofit partners, and education innovators.
Facilitated by former Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn, the conversation focused on a simple but important question: what are the most pressing challenges facing special education today, and what would make the biggest difference for schools and students?
The discussion reinforced something we hear often: while every school community is unique, many leaders are grappling with the same fundamental challenges.
1. Staffing remains the greatest constraint
Across school types and geographies, staffing emerged as the most urgent challenge. Leaders described growing student needs, increasing identification rates, and persistent shortages of special education teachers and related service providers.
Participants noted that recruiting and retaining qualified professionals remains difficult, particularly in high-cost regions and specialized roles. At the same time, student demand continues to grow, creating a gap between the services students need and the workforce available to deliver them.
2. Funding challenges continue to impact service delivery
Leaders also discussed the growing tension between rising compliance expectations and limited resources. While funding remains a concern, many participants emphasized that access to existing funding streams can be just as challenging as securing new funding.
Administrative complexity, reimbursement processes, and inconsistent guidance often create barriers that prevent schools from fully leveraging available resources.
3. Students experience different levels of support across settings
As students move between public, charter, private, and virtual learning environments, leaders described inconsistencies in how services are delivered and supported.
Many participants expressed a desire for greater clarity and consistency so that students with disabilities receive high-quality support regardless of the setting in which they learn.
4. Schools want clarity
One of the strongest themes from the discussion was the need for clearer guidance.
Leaders repeatedly emphasized that many challenges do not necessarily require new laws or regulations. Instead, they are seeking practical clarity around topics such as teletherapy implementation, Medicaid reimbursement, provider licensure, and service delivery flexibility. Clearer guidance can help schools move forward with greater confidence and focus their energy on supporting students.
Turning conversations into action
At Presence, we don’t believe meaningful innovation happens in isolation. It happens when educators, policymakers, practitioners, and partners come together to share perspectives and identify solutions.
We were honored to partner with Penny Schwinn to elevate the themes that emerged from this discussion and help ensure that the challenges facing special education remain part of broader conversations about education policy and innovation.
This convening is one example of our ongoing commitment to listening to the field, understanding the realities schools face, and working alongside education leaders to develop practical solutions that improve outcomes for students.
The challenges are complex, but the path forward starts with bringing the right people together.
Join the conversation
We plan to continue convening education leaders across districts, charter schools, virtual schools, state agencies, and partner organizations to discuss the future of special education and student support services.
Interested in participating in a future gathering? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at marketing@presence.com to learn more.
