COPAA and Partners Demand Information and Transparency from the Department of Education

by kids1stadvocac | Jul 21, 2026 | Federal

As millions of students prepare to return to school, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) still hasn’t explained how it will protect students’ civil rights and special education rights after announcing plans to transfer major responsibilities to...

House Committee Advances Bills to Move Education Programs to Other Agencies, Special Education and Civil Rights Offices Not Included

by kids1stadvocac | Jul 21, 2026 | Federal

Last week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a markup to amend and vote on the “Less Bureaucracy, Better Education” legislative package. The package consists of 10 bills to permanently move certain K-12, higher education, adult education, and career...

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...