Trump Administration Guts Office Of Special Education

"The office, which uses about $15 million annually in funding, ensures that the 7.5 million school-aged children with disabilities are treated fairly under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). They do this through overseeing and guiding state school systems. At the same time, the office offers programs that support kids with disabilities, their educators, and their families."

"The Education Department layoffs - more than 460 in total and about 20% of the remaining employees - were announced as part of the 4,200 federal jobs lost on Friday, ostensibly because of the government shutdown. Even before this latest reduction in force (RIF), the department has laid off more than 2,000 workers and bought out about 600. Some of the other offices hit hard so far include the Office of Federal Student Aid, the Office for Civil Rights, and the Institute of Education Sciences."

""This is decimating the office responsible for safeguarding the rights of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities," an anonymous department employee told NPR."

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) laid off nearly all staff during the government shutdown, leaving only a handful of top officials and their support teams. OSERS administers about $15 million annually and oversees enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for roughly 7.5 million school-aged children with disabilities. The office guides state school systems and runs programs supporting students with disabilities, educators, and families. With most staff gone, federal oversight of IDEA enforcement is effectively absent, increasing the risk of discrimination and unequal treatment without repercussions. The department faced more than 460 layoffs that day, adding to prior cuts exceeding 2,000 layoffs and around 600 buyouts, and other affected units include Federal Student Aid, the Office for Civil Rights, and the Institute of Education Sciences.

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