Para ordenar al Departamento de Educación dejar sin efecto la Carta Circular Núm. 006- 2025-2026, titulada “Política pública y marco práctico para distinguir entre servicios relacionados educativos y terapias o tratamientos clínicos”; detener y revertir cualquier procedimiento iniciado al amparo de ésta; y garantizar la continuidad de los servicios relacionados provistos al estudiantado del Programa de Educación Especial al amparo de la Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, la Constitución de Puerto Rico, la Ley de Servicios Educativos Integrales para Personas con Impedimentos, la Sentencia por Estipulación del caso Rosa Lydia Vélez y otros v. Awilda Aponte Roque y otros y la jurisprudencia interpretativa que acompaña estas (y otras) fuentes jurídicas; y para establecer otras disposiciones complementarias.

2025-2028 Session

Bill RCS 111 nullifies Puerto Rico's education circular restricting special education services, requiring reinstatement of therapeutic and related services for students with disabilities.

Comisión no recomienda aprobación de la medida

Legislative bill overview

Bill RCS 111 orders Puerto Rico's Department of Education to rescind Circular Letter 006-2025-2026, which distinguished between educational-related services and clinical therapies in special education. The bill mandates stopping any procedures initiated under this circular and ensuring continuous provision of related services to special education students under federal and local law.

Why is this important

This bill directly affects thousands of students with disabilities who depend on school-based services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support. The circular being challenged may have restricted access to or reduced coverage of these services, making this legislation critical for maintaining educational equity and legal compliance with special education mandates.

Potential points of contention

Definitional dispute: The core conflict centers on how to classify services—the circular attempted to separate "educational" from "clinical," but the bill argues this distinction violates established law and prior court settlements

Budget implications: Reversing the circular could increase Department of Education costs if it must resume funding all previously provided related services without the restrictions the circular imposed

Implementation clarity: The bill references multiple legal sources (IDEA, constitutional provisions, prior litigation) but doesn't specify how conflicts between these frameworks should be resolved in practice