Fragmented Federal Education Plan Could Harm Students With Disabilities, Advocates Warn

Shifting key responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Education to other agencies threatens the rights of students with disabilities, as federal oversight of critical protections could be diminished. Critics warn that decentralizing enforcement may lead to gaps in accountability, leaving vulnerable learners without consistent safeguards under existing laws. The move could also disrupt established support systems, raising concerns about how disabled students will fare under a fragmented regulatory approach. Experts highlight the potential for uneven implementation across states, putting long-standing civil rights protections in jeopardy.

Parceling out the U.S. Department of Education’s responsibilities to other agencies puts students with disabilities at risk by weakening federal enforcement of the laws that protect them and severing ...