In their continuing effort to eradicate everything true, beautiful and righteous in the United States, MAGA Republicans have landed on some of the most vulnerable of all Americans – disabled kids. Their latest sneaky move during this ridiculous and avoidable shutdown is to fire more than 400 staffers at the already decimated Department of Education. This includes most staff at the Office of Special Education Programs, where out of 80 to 90 current employees, less than five will remain on the job. These are (were) the folks who enforce the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from their schools.
According to the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, the Education Department has repeatedly said it supports - and will continue to support - funding and implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and special education for children with disabilities. These firings will make it impossible for the Department to fulfill those responsibilities. There is significant risk that not only will Federal funding lapse, but children with disabilities will be deprived of a free appropriate public education.
If you have a family member or friend receiving special services of any kind at a public school, their education may be at risk. Stand with us at Rotary Park on Saturday to protest this latest assault on civil rights!
“Some schools and states may simply stop following federal education laws altogether. If there are not people there to make sure the laws are followed, the laws are meaningless.”