Federal Legislation & News
in Special Education
ARCHIVE
WH Issues Executive Order to Close the Department of Education
Last Thursday, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) to begin closing the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Characterized as a State’s responsibility, the intention is to return the Department’s main function back to the States for management. Moreover,...
Executive Order Aiming to Close Ed Department Paves Way to Offload Special Education
Disability Scoop (Note: limited free articles) President Donald Trump is directing his education secretary to move forward with dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, a step that advocates say would have serious implications for students with disabilities....
Trump declares change to federal oversight for students with disabilities
Chalkbeat A big change for kids with disabilities is underway, Trump says. Critics say it’s against the law. President Donald Trump made a brief announcement Friday morning of a policy that could upend how the nation serves its 7.5 million students with disabilities....
What to know about the future of special education without the Education Department
Here & Now A special education leader under the George W. Bush administration says the dismantling of the Department of Education will impact students with disabilities. Stephanie Smith Lee now serves as policy and advocacy co-director at the National Down...
Trump-voting states have more to lose if Education Department dismantled
Axios President Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the Department of Education could prove more costly for red states than blue. Why it matters: Funding for public schools primarily falls to local and state governments, but federal funds work to fill the gaps....
NCYL and COPAA File Federal Lawsuit Against ED for Failing to Investigate Civil Rights Complaints
The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) filed a federal lawsuit yesterday on behalf of students and families across the country that seeks to reverse the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights'...
COPAA opposes the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED)
COPAA opposes the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Doing so poses a serious threat to public education. As advocates, we know that these unprecedented actions will result in devastating and irreversible harm to our...
ED RIFs Half Its Workforce, Lawsuits Filed, Democratic Appropriators Demand Answers
On March 11th, U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon announced a reduction of force (RIF) that affects half of the Department’s workforce, moving from 4,133 workers to 2,183. Those impacted will be placed on administrative leave beginning on March...
President Trump Signs Federal Funding Bill, Details for IDEA Programs Left Blank
After an agonizing week in Congress, on Friday, President Trump signed a Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) continuing resolution (CR) into law that funds the government at essentially FY 2024 levels through September 30, 2025. Missing from the CR –and what kept most House...
House Committee Holds School Choice Hearing
On Tuesday, March 12, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education convened a hearing titled "Education Without Limits: Exploring the Benefits of School Choice." Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Kiley (R-CA)...