On April 3, 2020, the Center submitted a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy Devos urging the Secretary against issuing any waivers under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The Center is extremely pleased the Department has clarified for states, districts and schools that the federal disability law provides sufficient flexibility to ensure all students, including students with disabilities, can benefit from remote education as communities determine the best approach to instruction during the COVID-19 crisis.
On March 21, 2020, Edweek wrote about changing federal guidance around educating students with disabilities during COVID-19, and the Center’s Lauren Morando Rhim and Wendy Tucker weighed in.
Senate Republicans have introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to support states in their efforts to protect their citizens and to infuse cash into the economy. We wholeheartedly support these efforts. Unfortunately, the bill goes too far by empowering the Secretary of Education to suggest to Congress waivers that would eliminate protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (a.k.a. Section 504).
As the world determines how to handle the escalating outbreak of COVID-19, education leaders across the country are facing difficult and enormously impactful decisions. We hope this resource guide will assist educators and school practitioners in developing comprehensive plans for students with disabilities and creating effective and high-quality learning environments for all during this evolving national transition.
On March 17, 2020, the 74 Million wrote a piece examining the immediate impacts of COVID-19 school closures on students with disabilities and asked Lauren Morando Rhim about her concerns.
With the World Health Organization officially declaring that COVID-19 is a pandemic, a new sense of urgency has been introduced and we anticipate more schools will be closed. With this eventuality in mind, schools must think through the following critical considerations as they develop plans to educate students with disabilities.
On March 4, 2020, Education Dive wrote about how school choice affects families of students with disabilities, citing data from the Center’s CRDC analysis.
The Center calls upon Congress to reject the White House’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget, which proposes to completely decimate federal support for public schools, threatening access for students in every state.
On February 10, 2020, the Hechinger Report posted an op-ed by Lauren Morando Rhim about the pitfalls of President Trump’s proposed Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act.