For Immediate Release: 3/21/2025
Contact: David Card | 202.408.9514 x122 | [email protected]
Washington, DC – This week the White House made good on its threats to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a decision that will upend the educational rights and protections of millions of students nationwide, particularly those with disabilities. This move endangers the progress made under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, both of which have been crucial in ensuring equal access to education for students with disabilities.
“The Administration’s actions against the Department of Education are an attack on students with disabilities and their families, who rely on federal oversight to ensure they receive the support and services they need,” said Marlene Sallo, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network. “Without the Department of Education’s enforcement of IDEA, students could face discrimination, inadequate accommodations and services, and a rollback of the hard-fought rights that have been in place for decades.”
The Department of Education plays a critical role ensuring that schools meet their legal obligations to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. With the reduction of employees and the dismantling of several Office of Civil Rights Regional Offices, families will be forced to navigate a patchwork of state policies, many of which lack the funding and infrastructure to support students with disabilities effectively. Further, the Department of Education directly funds local school districts and teachers as well as critical research that supports students with disabilities to be productive members of their communities. Local communities will suffer devastating impacts as a result of delaying, reducing or ending these funds.
“The potential consequences are dire,” continued Sallo. “Many states already struggle to meet the needs of students with disabilities, and without federal oversight, we risk widespread violations of students’ rights and access to quality education.”
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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
