{"id":15438,"date":"2026-06-18T12:24:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advocatesforchildren.org\/?post_type=article&p=15438"},"modified":"2026-06-18T12:24:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:24:51","slug":"responding-to-proposed-changes-to-the-u-s-department-of-education","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/advocatesforchildren.org\/es\/articles\/responding-to-proposed-changes-to-the-u-s-department-of-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Responding to Proposed Changes to the U.S. Department of Education"},"template":"","class_list":["post-15438","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article_type-general-news","topic_tax-students-with-disabilities","misc_topic-special-education"],"acf":{"component_standard_hero":{"":null,"excerpt":"This proposed restructuring violates federal law and is the latest step in an ongoing effort to dismantle the Department of Education","short_description":"","button":{"":null,"link_type":"off","page":null,"file":null,"title":""},"image":15431,"disable_share_icons":false},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Earlier this week, the Trump administration\u00a0announced plans<\/a>\u00a0to move oversight of special education and education-related civil rights enforcement out of the U.S. Department of Education and into other federal agencies that lack specialized expertise in K-12 education. This proposed restructuring violates federal law and is the latest step in an ongoing effort to dismantle the Department of Education.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIt<\/span>\u00a0will create confusion for districts, schools, and families; weaken accountability; and further stigmatize students who need additional support to learn.<\/span>\r\n
At its core, this proposed\u00a0<\/span>splintering of the Department\u00a0<\/span>ignores a fundamental reality: that students with disabilities are, first and foremost,\u00a0<\/span>students<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/blockquote>\r\nStudents with disabilities are integral members of their classrooms and school communities; they represent 15% of students nationwide and more than 20% of NYC\u2019s public school population. Since 1975, federal law has recognized that students with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. We know that students thrive when the supports they need are integrated into their educational experience\u2014delivered in real time, in their classrooms, alongside their peers\u2014not siloed away from it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n
Shifting responsibility for special education to the Department of Health and Human Services reflects a troubling<\/span>, outdated<\/span>\u00a0view of disability as a medical\u00a0<\/span>condition<\/span>\u00a0to be managed<\/span>, rather than a natural part of the human experience. It wrongly treats<\/span>\u00a0special education as separate from education for all learners<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Nothing could be further from the truth.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/blockquote>\r\nWe want to\u00a0be\u00a0very\u00a0clear:\u00a0<\/span>students and families, your rights have not changed, and neither has AFC\u2019s commitment to protecting those rights.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>We will continue to share updates as new information becomes available.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nEvery day, AFC works with families already struggling to navigate the special education system. Fragmenting federal oversight will only make it harder for students and families to secure the resources and protections they need. Our government should be strengthening its commitment to educational opportunity and inclusion for\u00a0<\/span>todo\u00a0<\/span><\/i>students,\u00a0not creating new barriers to both.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>","":null,"settings":["disable-bottom-padding"]}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_callout","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_callout":{"":null,"top_headline":"","headline":"Have questions about your education-related rights?","excerpt":"We're here to help. Call our free Jill Chaifetz Education Helpline or send us a message online","button":{"title":"Get Help","url":"https:\/\/advocatesforchildren.org\/get-help\/","target":""},"image":75,"settings":{"":null,"settings":["disable-bottom-padding"]}}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_resources","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_resources":{"kicker":"","header":"Guides, tip sheets, and educational resources","subheader":"Our free know-your-rights guides, tip sheets, and other resources can help you understand and better navigate New York City\u2019s public school system.","button":{"title":"See all AFC Resources","url":"https:\/\/advocatesforchildren.org\/find-resources\/","target":""},"":null,"feed_type":"manual","resources":[1575,1581,9229]}}],"relationships":{"":null,"article_type":[85],"topics":[28],"misc_topics":[198]},"misc":{"search_results":{"":null,"excerpt":"","featured_image":15431}}},"yoast_head":"\nResponding to Proposed Changes to the U.S. Department of Education - Advocates for Children of New York<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/advocatesforchildren.org\/es\/articles\/responding-to-proposed-changes-to-the-u-s-department-of-education\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Responding to Proposed Changes to the U.S. Department of Education - 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