2026 SESSION

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

26107948D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1373

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations

on February 13, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Carroll)

A BILL to require the Department of Education to assess potential enhancements and strategies to maximize utilization of funds designated for regional special education students in order to decrease the number of referrals of students with disabilities into private day school placements; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department of Education (the Department), in collaboration with the Office of Children's Services, staff from the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and such other stakeholders as the Department deems appropriate, shall assess potential enhancements and strategies to maximize utilization of funds designated for regional special education students, commonly referred to as the Students with Intensive Support Needs Application program, in order to decrease the number of referrals of students with disabilities into private day school placements. In its review, the Department shall consider (i) existing barriers to school divisions' maximization of these funds, (ii) allowable disability categories, (iii) appropriate recognition of costs, (iv) the appropriateness of supplemental funding for school divisions operating center-based programs for students with disabilities, and (v) other matters deemed appropriate by the Department. The Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations and Education and the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations no later than December 15, 2026.