Who Controls Special Education? A Federal Proposal Raises New Questions About Oversight and Accountability

A proposal to relocate federal oversight of special education programs is once again gaining traction in Washington, raising new concerns about how services for students with disabilities would be managed—and by whom.

During a recent congressional budget hearing, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon reiterated interest in moving special education programs out of the U.S. Department of Education, a concept that has surfaced repeatedly in broader discussions about restructuring or downsizing the agency. The idea, while not new, is now being discussed in the context of federal budget priorities and long-term plans to shift responsibilities across agencies.

At the center of the debate is the future of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the cornerstone federal law that guarantees students with disabilities access to a free appropriate public education. IDEA governs everything from individualized education programs (IEPs) to federal funding allocations for states, ma…