The U.S. Department of Education is a federal agency that supports state and local education systems by promoting access to quality education for all students. It plays a critical role in implementing and enforcing key federal education laws - most notably, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities.

The Department ensures that states meet the needs of students with disabilities by providing oversight, guidance, and essential resources for families, educators, and schools. It holds states accountable for addressing gaps in services, funds programs to expand the special education workforce, and helps parents advocate for their children’s rights in school.

However, this essential agency may soon face significant threats.

The Administration is considering closing the Department of Education and moving some of its offices to other federal departments. Specifically, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the IDEA program could be transferred to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This move would compromise the rights of children with Down syndrome and other disabilities by placing critical education and civil rights protections into a much broader agency with many competing responsibilities.

IDEA is both an education and civil rights law, and it must remain within the Department of Education to ensure appropriate oversight, enforcement, and accountability.

Dismantling or weakening the Department would harm students with disabilities in several ways. If the Department is eliminated, it would take an act of Congress - resulting in job losses, reduced institutional knowledge, and cuts to critical education programs. It would also disrupt the close coordination between offices that work together to support students with disabilities. For example, collaboration between OSEP and vocational rehabilitation programs, which help students with intellectual disabilities transition to college or employment, would be significantly hindered.

The Department of Education has the expertise and mission necessary to protect the rights of millions of students with Down syndrome and other disabilities. The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) stands with NDSS and other advocates and opposes any efforts to abolish or undermine this agency and its responsibility to provide students with a free and appropriate public education without discrimination.

📣 Share your story and tell your U.S. Representatives that the Department of Education must remain strong to ensure students with disabilities receive the education and support they deserve.

👉 Take action now to protect the future of our students!