Israel Special Education Faces Deep Crisis Despite Budget Surge
Israel's special education budget has reached 26.5 billion shekels, yet schools face severe staff shortages and a 61% rise in special needs enrollment, according to a recent Ministry of Education report and expert findings.
Israel's special education system is facing a severe structural crisis despite significant budget increases, as highlighted in a recent Ministry of Education report and expert analyses. While the special education budget surged from 15 billion shekels in 2021 to 26.5 billion shekels in 2026—accounting for roughly 28% of the total ministry budget—experts warn that the per-student funding has effectively stagnated due to a staggering 61% growth in the special needs student population between 2020 and 2024, compared to an 8.5% increase in the general student body.
Shortages and Systemic Failures
A study conducted by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute revealed that roughly two-thirds of elementary school principals report their schools cannot provide all mandated special education services. Furthermore, 28% of staff members surveyed in special education classrooms lack prior experience working with children with disabilities, and many teachers possess neither a special education background nor a teaching certificate. The individual baskets of hours allocated for integrated students in regular classrooms are frequently stretched thin, often forcing a single teaching assistant to split time between two or more children.
The Shapira Committee Recommendations and Delays
To address these mounting challenges, Education Minister Yoav Kisch established a special committee headed by businessman Amos Shapira, former CEO of El Al and Cellcom. The committee's March 2025 recommendations included reducing class sizes across the system to 19 students, shortening the school week to five days, 'inverting the pyramid' by prioritizing early childhood education, and expanding professional training. However, Minister Kisch postponed implementation until September 2027, drawing criticism from committee members like Nachum Kisch and Amos Shapira, who argue that systemic reform is urgently needed to curb ballooning special education enrollment driven by overcrowded regular classrooms.
