The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) has issued a report titled The Federal Response to Teacher Shortage Impacts on Students with Disabilities, describing how the national teacher shortage impacts students with disabilities and providing an assessment of the U.S. Department of Education response to the shortage. The report is organized into sections that outline the issue and legal rights of students with disabilities, explains the federal government’s responsibility for protecting rights; examines the nationwide teacher shortage; and details, the specific effects of shortages on students with disabilities. The report includes case studies from six states—Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, and West Virginia. To illustrate the problem at the local level and also reviews how Congress and the U.S. Department of Education have responded to these challenges. The report highlights expert recommendations and concludes that the shortage of qualified teachers has significant and lasting effects on students with disabilities, leading to diminished educational quality, lower academic performance, and reduced long-term opportunities for employment and independence.