Washington, DC—Representative Lucy McBath (GA-6) joined Representatives John W. Mannion (NY-22) and Jahana Hayes (CT-5) to introduce the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act to ensure that special education programs within the U.S. Department of Education are administered as Congress intended. This legislation reaffirms the Department’s statutory responsibilities under the landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and prevents any attempts to weaken enforcement or disrupt critical services for students with disabilities.
Representative Lucy McBath (GA-06) said, “As we’ve seen with recent actions, our public school system is under attack. IDEA programs and resources provided by the Department of Education are the only way that schools can offer the specific support necessary to provide a quality education to a child with disabilities. Every family in this country has the right to a free and appropriate education that is tailored to their child’s needs. I am proud to stand with both of my colleagues and former public-school teachers, Representatives Mannion and Hayes, as we defend that right in Congress.”
Representative John W. Mannion (NY-22) said, “The IDEA has been the foundation of special education in the United States for 50 years, ensuring that students with disabilities receive the free, appropriate public education they are entitled to under federal law. Attempts to strip special education programs from the Department of Education and shift them to agencies without the expertise or legal mandate to oversee their implementation are not only reckless but also unlawful. The?Protecting Students with Disabilities Act?ensures that Congress, not the executive branch, determines how we support and educate children with disabilities. I’m proud to stand with Representatives McBath and Hayes to uphold our commitment to these students, their families, and educators.”
Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-5) said, “The Protecting Students with Disabilities Act aims to ensure IDEA programs are administered as Congress intended, upholding the right of students with special needs to receive the free and appropriate public education they deserve.”
Prior to IDEA, kids with disabilities were regularly turned away from public schools and were denied access to a basic education. The Protecting Students with Disabilities Act prohibits the use of federal funds to eliminate, consolidate, or restructure any office within the Department of Education that administers or enforces IDEA programs. It protects the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which has spent decades developing the necessary expertise, research, and oversight mechanisms to ensure states comply with IDEA and provide high-quality special education services.
The legislation is supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the?American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), and EdTrust.