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

Weakening federal oversight of the U.S. Department of Education’s disability protections could leave students with disabilities vulnerable, as proposed shifts in responsibility threaten enforcement of key laws and disrupt critical support systems. Critics warn that redistributing these duties to other agencies may create gaps in accountability, leaving students without the safeguards they rely on for equal access to education. The move raises concerns about how oversight will function without the department’s centralized authority, potentially undermining decades of legal protections. Advocates argue that any restructuring must ensure continued compliance with civil rights laws designed to serve this population.

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 ...