Congress Must Conduct Oversight Hearings, Protect Children with Disabilities, Protect IDEA

The Administration continues to take unlawful steps to dismantle ED by shifting the functions of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and other offices through Interagency Agreement to federal agencies. The separation and fragmentation of K–12 oversight, funding, and technical assistance is a direct threat to the integrated systems that are designed to serve all children in our nation’s schools, including children with disabilities. Recent layoffs (paused by Congress) would have decimated state and family access to programming and technical assistance essential to the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other key education and disability laws. As you know, these laws serve hundreds of thousands of children, youth, and young adults in our schools and through vocational rehabilitation.

Families rely upon the essential protections that ensure their children can access a free, appropriate public education. And, the Secretary of Education has stated publicly that plans are underway to move IDEA to another federal agency. Taken together, these actions absolutely threaten decades of progress in protecting educational access and opportunity for all individuals with disabilities.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA, which has enjoyed strong bipartisan support for five decades. As we celebrate incredible progress for many students with disabilities, we find ourselves facing an unimaginable crisis: the dismantling of the very infrastructure Congress created to ensure children with disabilities could reach their full potential. If these actions are carried out it will catapult students with disabilities back to a time of segregation and refusal to provide educational opportunities.

We must not let the Executive Branch destabilize the infrastructure, support and education programs that ensure children can receive the early intervention, specialized education, accommodations, access to assistive technology, and other supports they need to achieve.

Tell Congress to conduct oversight hearings. The public deserves to learn how the Secretary plans to fulfill the Department’s full obligations under IDEA and other authorized education and disability laws.