The Impact of Closing the Department of Education
What does it mean for students with disabilities?
The Department of Education plays a critical role ensuring that schools meet their legal obligations to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. The Department of Education directly funds school districts, teachers, and research that supports students with disabilities. If these funds are delayed, reduced, or terminated, local communities will suffer devastating impacts.
More formal and informal school removals.
More restraint and seclusion in schools.
More referrals to law enforcement or psychiatric settings.
Fewer instructional hours during the school day.
Less access to general education instruction and classrooms.
Less access to extracurricular activities with non-disabled peers.
States and school districts could lose or have delayed access to funding to recruit, train, hire and retain qualified educators. The educator labor shortage will likely increase and students with disabilities will not have access to services, supports, reasonable accommodations, and/or adequate staffing that is necessary to meet their individual needs and legal requirements of IDEA and other laws. More long-term negative impacts include:Loss of necessary oversight and accountability.
Changes to the review and enforcement of disability discrimination claims.
Less guidance and support in the administration of IDEA funds.
Dismantling the Department of Education endangers the progress made under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, both of which have been crucial in ensuring equal access to education for students with disabilities.
