According to the 2024 School Census released by the Brazilian federal government, approximately 30% of municipalities in Brazil do not have educational support professionals available for students with disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and giftedness. These professionals play a crucial role in assisting students with mobility, hygiene, feeding, and integrating into the school environment. The findings highlight a significant gap in support for a vulnerable population that relies heavily on these resources to thrive in educational settings.

The data indicates that 226,000 students with disabilities are enrolled in both mainstream and special education classes across municipalities that reported a lack of support professionals. A notable concentration of these students resides in the state of São Paulo, which accounts for half of the total number and has the highest number of municipalities—528—that reported the absence of necessary support staff. Among the 1,659 municipalities lacking educational assistants, Feira de Santana in Bahia has the most students with disabilities enrolled, totaling 6,262, yet local education authorities have not responded to inquiries regarding this issue.

These statistics may underrepresent the actual situation as many municipalities might not fully report their conditions, thus obscuring the extent of the problem. For instance, São José dos Campos, also in São Paulo, reported having 4,893 students in special education, a figure that could also be higher. The absence of adequate educational support not only compromises the learning experience for these students but also raises questions about how municipalities are meeting their obligations to provide inclusive education as mandated by Brazilian law. Addressing this issue is critical for fostering an equitable educational environment for all students in Brazil.