COPAA State Monitoring Report Finds States Lack Capacity to Police IDEA Compliance

by kids1stadvocac | Jul 7, 2026 | Federal

On Tuesday, July 7, COPAA released States Are Failing to Meet Their Obligations to Students Under IDEA: An Analysis of State Monitoring Reports by the U.S. Department of Education, which examines recent State monitoring reports released by the U.S. Department of...

Senate Democrats Reject Interagency Agreements to Move IDEA and Civil Rights Functions to Other Agencies

by kids1stadvocac | Jul 7, 2026 | Federal

Last week, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations; and Bernie Sanders, Ranking...

Inspector General Finds ED Actions Impede Ability to Perform Statutorily Required Duties in OCR and OSERS

by kids1stadvocac | Jun 30, 2026 | Federal

Last week, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a report titled “Review of U.S. Department of Education Changes in Staffing and Operations.” The report focuses on the reduction in force (RIF) and other...

Special ed, civil rights are largely leaving Education Department

by kids1stadvocac | Jun 23, 2026 | Federal

NPR Two of the U.S. Department of Education’s biggest responsibilities will shift to other federal agencies: safeguarding student civil rights and administering programs for students with disabilities. The Trump administration said Tuesday it will move much of...

Parents fear fallout from special education oversight changes

by kids1stadvocac | Jun 23, 2026 | Federal

Chalkbeat Education Secretary Linda McMahon had a message for parents of students with disabilities on Tuesday as she announced seismic shifts to federal special education oversight: “I’ve heard you.” In listening sessions and at school visits, McMahon said thousands...