The following is a personal essay that reflects the opinions and experiences of its author.October 17, 2025This November marks the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a landmark law that shapes the educational experiences of more than 7.5 million students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) across the United States.In exchange for federal funding, states must provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education; the IDEA governs this and how an IEP (Individualized Education Program) is structured, built to address a student’s needs, and implemented in the classroom.
Central to the IDEA’s effectiveness is federal monitoring of state compliance; however, that enforcement structure is now under serious threat.Earlier this week, the Trump administration effectively killed the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) — an office within the U.S.
Department of Education (ED) responsible for enforcing IDEA provisions and supporting families — by reducing its workforce to fewer than six employees, a 95% cut since the start of 2025.*OSEP ensures schools follow the IDEA by setting policy, monitoring state compliance, investigating violations, and intervening when children with disabilities are not receiving their legally mandated services.The Trump administration has long threatened to dismantle or drastically reduce the ED.
Between layoffs earlier in 2025 and these latest cuts, the office that once held schools accountable is now unable to function.[Quiz: How Well Do You Know U.S.
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