Two of the U.S.Department of Education's biggest responsibilities will shift to other federal agencies: safeguarding student civil rights and supervising programs for students with disabilities.The Trump administration said Tuesday it will move the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).OSERS manages programs that support students with disabilities, offering guidance and oversight to ensure states follow the landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a law that guarantees disabled students access to an equitable public education.
The administration announced it would also move the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the U.S.Department of Justice.
OCR's staff of civil rights attorneys are tasked with protecting students in K-12 schools and universities from discrimination based on disability, gender, race and national origin.OCR has been in tumult for months, targeted repeatedly by the Trump administration for staff cuts, then reversals of those cuts.The moves to HHS and DOJ would further dismantle an agency that President Donald Trump has vowed to close, and it would leave the Education Department with a shrinking number of responsibilities.In a letter obtained by NPR, the Education Department's Kim Richey, who is assistant secretary for civil rights, and Kim Rogers, the acting assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services, said the shifts are part of an administration commitment to end what they called micromanagement."With this in mind, and after careful consideration, OSERS will be partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support the administration of programs for infants, toddlers, children, students and individuals with disabilities," Richey and Rogers wrote.
"Likewise, the Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will partner with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to strengthen enforcem...