Last year marked 50 years of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the momentous law that secured federal protections for infants, toddlers, and students with disabilities and their families.Today, more than 8 million individuals with disabilities are served under IDEA and guaranteed early intervention and a free appropriate education — more than double the number since the law passed in 1975. I had the privilege of celebrating this milestone at an elementary school.
I imagined a time when many of the students before me would have been excluded from public education and felt proud that our nation opened school doors wider for all children. IDEA is a generational achievement.But 50 years later, we still have work to do.
As many reading this can attest, families still navigate a difficult day‑to‑day reality. MCMAHON TELLS HOUSE PANEL TRUMP ADMIN MOVING TO DISMANTLE ‘FAILED’ $3T EDUCATION BUREAUCRACY Over the past several months, my team and I have held listening sessions with over a thousand parents, educators, state early intervention and special education directors, and advocates across the country to better understand the current state of services for individuals with disabilities.These conversations underscored the promise and importance of IDEA and the importance of federal civil rights protections for children with disabilities.Yet even with IDEA’s protections, many parents recounted fighting tooth and nail for timely and appropriate services, draining their savings to give their child the best chance to succeed.
They described the challenges that abound in every part of their child’s life when they are not receiving necessary educational services. It should not require herculean effort to obtain what the law guarantees. As the Trump Administration scales back federal micromanagement when it hinders success, we are equally committed to bolstering the efficacy of federal oversight where it is essential. The wo...