Federal officials are proposing a major restructuring of the U.S. Department of Education that could undermine critical protections for students with disabilities. The plan involves shifting key responsibilities to other agencies, raising concerns that federal enforcement of civil rights laws—such as those ensuring equal access to education—could be weakened or disconnected. Advocates warn this move could leave vulnerable students without the safeguards they currently rely on, as oversight and accountability mechanisms may be disrupted. The proposal has sparked debate over whether decentralizing these functions will compromise the rights of one of the most protected groups in public education.
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 ...
