Maintain Department of Education oversight for students with disabilities

The Department of Education plays a vital role in protecting and supporting students with disabilities across the nation. Dismantling this agency would undo decades of progress and leave millions of students behind, particularly those with special needs. We cannot allow privatization schemes like vouchers or education savings accounts to undermine the civil rights and quality education that students with disabilities are legally entitled to receive. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires states to identify and provide free, appropriate public education to all eligible students with disabilities. However, states vary greatly in how much they spend per student with disabilities, ranging from just $5,265 in Mississippi to over $24,000 in Connecticut in 2020. Federal IDEA funding from the Department of Education is critical to helping states increase their capacity and ensure consistent, quality services nationwide. Without the Department's oversight and enforcement, there would be no nationwide accountability for states upholding the rights of students with disabilities and their families. Data shows disturbing disparities, like higher discipline rates for students of color with disabilities. The Department collects and analyzes this data to identify violations and drive improvements. It also funds key programs addressing shortages of special education teachers and providing training to parents on their children's rights. Shifting IDEA funds to private vouchers or block grants with no strings attached would revoke protections for students with disabilities in private schools. It would eliminate the Department's ability to monitor how states spend this money and whether eligible students are truly being served appropriately. Undoing the federal role would cause drastic inconsistencies across states and open the door to discrimination against our most vulnerable students. We must fully fund and strengthen our public schools and fiercely protect students' civil rights by maintaining the Department of Education's enforcement of IDEA.