Why tracking racial disparities in special education still matters

by kids1stadvocac | Jan 6, 2026 | Federal

The Michigan Chronicle Classrooms should be places of opportunity, not obstacles. But for many students with disabilities, especially students of color and English learners, school often reinforces the inequities it’s supposed to erase. Black students, for example,...

Ed Department recalls staffers who handle complaints from students with disabilities

by kids1stadvocac | Dec 16, 2025 | Federal

Disability Scoop The U.S. Department of Education is bringing back hundreds of staffers to tackle a backlog of civil rights cases — including complaints of disability discrimination in schools — after keeping them on administrative leave for most of the year. More...

As Justice Department priorities shift, concerns about protection of students’ civil rights escalate

by kids1stadvocac | Dec 16, 2025 | Federal

Hechinger Report Within the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is a small office devoted to educational issues, including seclusion, as well as desegregation and racial harassment. The division intentionally chooses cases with potential for high impact and...

AZ: Federal cuts leave many Arizona special education students without oversight

by kids1stadvocac | Dec 9, 2025 | State

KOLD.COM “It’s really important that some outside agency like OCR comes in — someone outside the school district can come in and see what’s going on,” said Dr. Diana Newmark, University of Arizona Education Advocacy Clinic Director. Then the Trump Administration...

ACT NOW: Tell Congress to Conduct Oversight Hearings to Protect Children with Disabilities

by kids1stadvocac | Nov 11, 2025 | Federal

Despite the pending short-term agreement led by the Senate that would allow federal employees to return to work, COPAA remains extremely concerned that the Department of Education (ED) has taken steps to eliminate all but a handful of staff and gut key offices...