Research Evidence Against Dismantling the U.S. Education Department: How to Strengthen Support for Students with Disabilities

The role of the U.S. Department of Education in enforcing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is in flux. IDEA, enacted in 1975, is the cornerstone federal law that protects the educational rights of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. Though the enacted FY26 federal budget left IDEA funding levels intact, the Trump Administration has called for significant changes in how those funds are allocated and overseen. Proposals to consolidate grants, increase flexibility through waivers and block grants, shift oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and increase the use of private school vouchers still threaten federal protections for students with disabilities. And the ongoing dismantling of the Education Department, with drastic staff reductions for the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), is already changing federal support for these students and their families, teachers, and schools.

Join Education Law Center virtually on Wednesday, February 25, at 2 p.m. ET for a webinar entitled Research Evidence Against Dismantling the U.S. Education Department: How to Strengthen Support for Students with Disabilities. Expert panelists will share analyses and insights into how the Department implements the goals of IDEA by holding states and school districts accountable. The goal is to provide advocates and state lawmakers with clear, research-based evidence to help strengthen policies that support students with disabilities, even if federal oversight wanes. 

The webinar will be moderated by Education Law Center Research Director Dr. Danielle Farrie. Featured panelists include Denise Marshall, CEO, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA); Valerie C. Williams, Former Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education; Dr. Alyn Turner, Senior Research Director, Research for Action; and Dr. Cara Jackson, Research Manager, the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting. The event will conclude with an audience Q&A session. 

For more information on ELC’s Research Evidence Against Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education project, visit our webpage and check back periodically for updates. This project is supported by the William T. Grant Foundation and the Spencer Foundation.   

Press Contact:
Sharon Krengel
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x240