Education Department Moves Special Ed. and Civil Rights to Other Agencies

The U.S. Department of Education is shifting oversight of the country’s special education programs and school civil rights enforcement to other federal agencies, marking a significant restructuring of how these protections are administered. The move raises questions about accountability and potential gaps in monitoring compliance with disability rights and anti-discrimination policies in schools. Critics argue this decentralization could weaken enforcement, while supporters say it may streamline operations. The decision follows broader efforts to reallocate federal education responsibilities amid ongoing debates over regulatory oversight.

The U.S. Department of Education has begun outsourcing responsibility for overseeing the nation’s sprawling special education system and enforcing civil rights law in schools to other federal agencies ...