Think DIFFERENTLY About Ending Learning Loss Act

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall conduct a study on the effect of Federal and State education policies during the COVID–19 pandemic on the academic achievement and functional performance of students with an IEP, including policies related to remote learning and the suspension or reduction of special education and related services.

Such study shall be conducted with respect to the 2018–2019 school year through the 2023–2024 school year, and shall compare—

(A) the academic achievement and functional performance of students with an IEP before, during, and after the COVID–19 pandemic; and

(B) the access of such students to special education and related services before, during, and after the COVID–19 pandemic.

For the purposes of such study, the Secretary shall measure academic achievement and functional performance, and access to special education and related services, of students with an IEP using metrics that include—

(A) results of any standardized testing and assessments available for the school years described in paragraph (1);

(B) hours of special education and related services provided to such students in accordance with their individualized education programs during the school years described in paragraph (1);

(C) reports on the progress of such students toward meeting the annual goals and, if appropriate, benchmarks or short-term objectives, of an individualized education program pursuant to subclauses (I) and (II) of section 614(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(I) and (II)) during the school years described in paragraph (1) of this subsection; and

(D) consultation with stakeholders, including educators, family members, service providers, and students.

Not later than 30 days after the completion of the study conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a summary of the findings of such study to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

In this section:

The term individualized education program or IEP means an individualized education program defined in section 614(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1414(d)).

The terms special education and related services have the meanings given such terms, respectively, in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401).

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.

The term students with an IEP means students enrolled in a public school in kindergarten through grade 12 who have an individualized education program.