The National Down Syndrome Congress is extremely alarmed by misinformation being spread about the Department of Education and has created this factsheet to clear up any confusion. The U.S. Department of Education plays a vital, irreplaceable role in supporting students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and students with disabilities will be harmed under any scenario that includes breaking up the Department by mass firings and scattering its parts to other agencies, turning IDEA into a voucher program, or block granting IDEA funds to the states with no federal oversight. Please learn the FACTS and then contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and let them know that dismantling or otherwise weakening the Department of Education will significantly harm all students with disabilities.
Read our U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet: “Why Protecting IDEA and the U.S. Department of Education is Essential for Students with Disabilities,” authored by Stephanie Smith Lee, NDSC Policy & Advocacy Co-Director, Former Director, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education 2002-2005.
View What is the DOE? PDF
