Over the past several months, there has been no shortage of discussion about the future of federal education policy. One proposal that should concern anyone who cares about students with disabilities is the suggestion to move responsibility for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from the U.S. Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
As someone who has spent my career working to expand educational and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, I believe this would be a significant mistake.
At its core, IDEA is an education law. It was created to ensure that students with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education and the supports they need to succeed in school and beyond. While many students with disabilities also receive health, therapeutic, and community-based services, their educational rights are fundamentally different. Those rights are rooted in teaching, learning, transition planning, career preparation, and access to meaningful educational experiences.
The U.S. Department of Education has decades of experience overseeing educational systems, monitoring compliance with IDEA, supporting states and school districts, and ensuring that students with disabilities receive the services and accommodations they are entitled to under the law. HHS plays a critical role in supporting health and human services programs, but it is not an education agency. It does not possess the same expertise in educational policy and practice.
Moving IDEA outside the Department of Education would create unnecessary disruption at a time when schools, families, and students need stability. It could weaken coordination between special education and general education initiatives, complicate accountability systems, and create confusion regarding implementation and oversight. Most importantly, it risks shifting the conversation away from educational opportunity and toward a service-based model that may not fully recognize the importance of academic achievement, career preparation, and postsecondary success.
For decades, advocates have worked to ensure that students with disabilities are viewed first as learners, scholars, future employees, and contributing members of their communities. IDEA reflects that vision. It is not simply about services; it is about access, opportunity, and educational equity.
This issue affects more than policymakers in Washington. It affects families navigating the special education process, educators working to support diverse learners, and students who rely on IDEA protections to access meaningful educational opportunities. If you share these concerns, now is the time to make your voice heard. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to keep IDEA within the U.S. Department of Education. If you are not sure who to contact, you can use this website to find your local Congressional Representatives: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.
Regardless of political affiliation, we should all agree that educational programs belong in the hands of educational experts.
The future of students with disabilities depends on strong educational systems. Let’s keep IDEA where it belongs.