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The Purple Zone
Hosted by Alexis Morgan, The Purple Zone explores how governance, public institutions, community, and history shape the places we call home.
Through conversations, storytelling, and policy analysis, the podcast connects local experiences to larger civic and political currents--from education, healthcare, and governance to culture, identity, and institutional change.
Rooted in Idaho but reaching far beyond it, The Purple Zone is less about hot takes and more about understanding how communities evolve, how decisions shape everyday life, and what it means to participate in civic life together.
Alexis Morgan is a PhD candidate in public policy and administration, longtime community participant, advocate, and civic storyteller.
The Purple Zone
The Real Cost of Underfunded Special Education
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When special education isn’t fully funded, the cost doesn’t disappear...it gets absorbed by families, classrooms, and educators.
In this solo episode of The Purple Zone, I unpack what underfunded special education actually looks like on the ground: for students whose needs go unmet, for teachers navigating behavior and safety challenges without enough support, and for families trying to advocate for their children in complex systems they didn’t design.
Through two personal stories and Idaho-specific context, this episode explores:
- how funding gaps create real tradeoffs for all students, not just those in special education,
- why some families experience far more strain than others when support falls short,
- how unmet mental health and behavioral needs show up in classrooms, and
- what changes when schools have the staffing, resources, and partnerships they need.
This isn’t a conversation about blame; it’s about design. Special education is a legal mandate, but it’s also a shared responsibility. When it’s underfunded, districts are forced into impossible choices, families carry heavier burdens, and educators are stretched thin.
And yet, partnership still matters. When schools and families work together, especially in times of constraint, the experience for students can change.
If you want to understand why special education funding affects the entire school community, and why addressing it is urgent...not someday, but now...this episode is for you.
Because policy isn’t abstract. It’s personal.
Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/
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Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.
email@thealexismorgan.com
Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
https://www.thealexismorgan.com