The Department of Education is crucial to students with disabilities, and Disability Rights California denounces today’s executive order that threatens to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and related programs. The efforts to weaken the Department have been made recklessly and threaten to leave many school-aged children with disabilities and their families without proper access to quality public education and their civil rights. 

In our advocacy, we witness how federal funding supports services to make sure students with disabilities have access to specialized instruction and support. Dismantling and privatizing public education will disproportionately harm students with disabilities. Public education must remain public, and the rights of students with disabilities must be safeguarded.

DRC opposes the following efforts to undermine education for students with disabilities:

• Potentially reduce funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); 
• Restructure the Office for Civil Rights (OCR); 
• Divert public funds to private school vouchers.

“Efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, weaken the Office for Civil Rights, slash IDEA funding, and divert public resources to private school vouchers are undermining hard-won progress for students with disabilities,” said Gabriela Torres, Litigation Counsel in Disability Rights California’s Legal Advocacy Unit.

While the Administration has not yet proposed cuts in federal funds for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), DRC is concerned that any cuts—which seem likely in the current political environment—would create challenges for schools, making it harder for them to meet their legal obligations and disproportionately affecting students who already face substantial barriers to education. 

We oppose any proposal to reduce the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or shift its responsibilities to the Department of Justice (DOJ), as this would undermine the office’s crucial role in independently investigating discrimination complaints and enforcing civil rights protections in education. OCR’s independence is critical to addressing violations of students’ civil rights, and transferring these responsibilities to the DOJ could lead to confusion, delays, and a lack of clear recourse for families. 

The diversion of public funds to private school vouchers would further erode equitable access to education for all students. These programs would increase segregation, diminish transparency and accountability, and weaken the public education system that serves the majority of students.

We urge Californians to contact their congressional representatives and express opposition to these harmful proposals. Protecting the rights of students with disabilities requires a strong Department of Education, fully funded IDEA programs, and a fully resourced Office for Civil Rights. 

Media Contact

Eric Harris
Associate Executive Director of External Affairs
Disability Rights California
(916) 504-5940
Eric.Harris@disabilityrightsca.org

Disability Rights California (DRC) – Is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. The mission of drc is to defend, advance, and strengthen the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities. For more information visit: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org.