The Trump administration is planning to migrate oversight of federal special education programs from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to another agency, according to an agency spokeswoman speaking with The Washington Post.
The planned change follows a massive “reduction in force” at the Education Department — one that left nearly all staff that worked in the special education offices without a job. The firings and proposed transfer of special education oversight align with the Trump administration’s March announcement, seeking to transfer special education services and programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
While discussions over fully closing the Education Department continue, the migration of agency responsibilities would side step the need for congressional approval to stunt the agency’s responsibilities. Rather notably, the move would mirror a similar agency transfer early this year, in which the administration moved oversight of career, technical and adult education grants from the DOE to the Department of Labor.
If the Trump administration were to move forward with the planned transfer of special education programs to HHS, some vital programs for students with disabilities could be affected, including the $15 billion Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) program and the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities formula grant initiative.
The current iteration of the IDEA serves approximately 7.5 million students ages 3 to 21 nationwide and provides funding for schools to educate students with disabilities. The Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities provides more than $500 million in grants and funding annually to state agencies that offer early intervention services for children from birth to two years old.
Education industry experts anticipate that moving the IDEA or other special education programs to an agency that does not specialize in complex education law would likely lead to changes, delays in service or cuts to existing programs, along with requiring additional training for HHS staff.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon, a Trump appointee, reiterated the agency and administration’s intention to move special education programming outside the agency. Stating that the agency is unnecessary, the administration has expressed interest in shuttering or shutting down the agency, though fully eliminating the Education Department would require congressional approval.
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