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. The move risks undermining decades of legal protections designed to ensure equal access to education for all learners. Without strong federal enforcement, advocates fear compliance could decline, leaving many students without the services and accommodations 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 ...