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

Weakening oversight of the U.S. Department of Education’s disability protections could leave students with disabilities vulnerable, as proposed shifts in responsibility threaten federal enforcement of key laws. Critics warn that redistributing these duties to other agencies may disrupt accountability and undermine safeguards designed to ensure equal access to education. The move risks severing critical connections between oversight and advocacy, raising concerns about how effectively rights will be upheld without centralized authority. Without strong federal enforcement, students and their families may face greater challenges securing the support they need.

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 ...