Emerging Risks in Special Education

All educational organizations, from childcare centers to universities, face unique insurance challenges that can impact their operations and financial health. This can trickle down, affecting the experience for students at the school. From navigating innovations in technology to best practices for handling student conflicts, various insurance risks shape, and change, the landscape of education.  

These challenges only heighten when making considerations for special needs programs. In 2024, California will be a trailblazer for funding special needs programs in the state. Today, California serves more than 725,000 students with disabilities (approximately 11.7 percent of the K–12 population) and invests roughly $12 billion in federal, state, and local dollars annually in special education, the highest across the country. 

"From navigating innovations in technology to best practices for handling student conflicts, various insurance risks shape, and change, the landscape of education."

Regardless of funding, successfully catering an education to a child with a disability needs attentive, determined focus from noble educators. While special education can be a rewarding career, this career path comes with a unique set of challenges. Below is a brief rundown on some emerging risks impacting special education programs organizational leaders should keep in focus when designating resources for mitigating these risks:   

• Technology: Breaches of personal information of schools and staff. The ability to secure student and staff records is becoming increasingly more difficult and the threat is real.   

• Classroom Bullying: Bullying, unfortunately, is and has always been a prominent dark force in schools. Children with disabilities are two to three times more likely to be bullied than their peers who do not have a disability.  

• Social Trauma Informed Teaching: If the COVID-19 pandemic taught the world anything, it's how quickly the world can change, for better or worse. Beyond that event, difficult and traumatic events happen across the country, and the world, every day. Through Keenan’s IMReady resource center, teachers can get some help in incorporating programs to make students feel safe and prepared if a traumatic event arises.  

• • IMReady has a Comprehensive School Safety Plan Development (CSSP) that assists schools to comply with California Ed. Code Section 32281(a) includes three-year support and implementation. 

In Conclusion…

If you are interested in learning more about risks associated with special education, please contact your Keenan representative or email info@keenan.com to connect with us.