Jeopardizing Protections for Students with Disabilities

Just over a week after Linda McMahon’s confirmation as Secretary of Education, the Trump-Vance Administration is moving to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, jeopardizing protections for students with disabilities. The Department today initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce. This reckless decision of gutting staff will incapacitate the agency and effectively shutter its ability to uphold essential civil rights protections, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504. 

Overseeing the implementation of IDEA, including ensuring critical protections are in place, is not federal overreach—it’s a lifeline for families to make sure their children with disabilities receive special education services. We at the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) have seen firsthand how important this oversight is. For example, Texas failed to identify children with dyslexia who needed IDEA services. Because the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs intervened in 2021, the state was required to take corrective actions—ensuring more children with learning disabilities received Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to which they were entitled. Many families would still struggle to access the needed services without that accountability. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is also essential. This office investigates and resolves thousands (roughly 5,000-7,000) of disability-related complaints every year – serving as a key protector of disability rights. For the over 7.5 million children with disabilities nationwide and the nearly 20% of college students who are disabled, today’s actions by this Administration could leave them without crucial safeguards for their rights and protections.

For nearly 50 years, NCLD has worked with Congress and Administrations to advocate for federal policies that improve student outcomes. NCLD will not stand by as this Administration’s actions undermine the support for students with disabilities and rights codified in law. Join us in calling on Congress to protect the Department of Education and contact your Members of Congress: https://ncld.quorum.us/campaign/protect_used/.