The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5325, aims to amend existing laws regarding special education, particularly focusing on the use of seclusion and the reporting requirements for local and regional boards of education. Key changes include the stipulation that no student may be placed in seclusion unless they are monitored by a school employee and the seclusion area is equipped with a camera and a clear line of sight. Additionally, the bill clarifies that seclusion cannot be used as a planned intervention in a student's behavioral intervention plan or individualized education program.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the reporting requirements for boards of education regarding the expenditure of grant funds for special education. It removes the previous requirement to specify whether grant funds were used to hire new special education staff and instead mandates that the reports include a summary of expenditures for special education purposes as defined in the law. The bill also establishes new contract requirements for private providers of special education services, including the necessity for boards to enter into written contracts to be eligible for reimbursement for costs associated with these services. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2026.