K-12 Dive

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, during a keynote address on Tuesday, emphasized the federal government’s obligation to enforce protections for students with disabilities, while touting the Trump administration’s efforts to give states, districts and families more flexibility and authority over how special education programs operate. The Education Department is doing “everything in our power to create lasting improvements that support your state and local efforts to make systems that are successful for parents, educators and communities serving individuals with disabilities,” McMahon told 1,250 attendees — project directors and program staff who support special education programs nationwide — at the annual conference of the department’s Office of Special Education Programs”…

Although McMahon projected optimism, there has been significant pushback on the interagency agreements, particularly the OSERS-HHS one. Critics say the changes will cause confusion and reduce accountability for state and district compliance to IDEA. Those opposing the OSERS-HHS partnership include organizations representing special educators and disability rights and civil rights advocates, as well as some members of Congress…