Families of kids with disabilities warn Education Department changes could break a flawed system

By — Heather Hollingsworth, Associated Press Heather Hollingsworth, Associated Press By — Annie Ma, Associated Press Annie Ma, Associated Press By — Moriah Balingit, Associated Press Moriah Balingit, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/families-of-kids-with-disabilities-warn-education-department-changes-could-break-a-flawed-system Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Families of kids with disabilities warn Education Department changes could break a flawed system Education Jun 18, 2026 4:32 PM EDT For months, and sometimes longer, parents of kids with disabilities say they have waited for the Education Department to make progress on their complaints of bullying or other discrimination. Now that the department is offloading civil rights enforcement and special education, some parents and advocates warn a process that has largely been stalled since President Donald Trump took office will see only more chaos and roadblocks. WATCH: News Wrap: Civil rights, special education oversight shifted from Department of Education "It's to the point I don't even check in anymore with the attorney," said Nicole May, an Ohio mother. May filed a complaint in spring 2024 with the department's Office for Civil Rights, alleging her teenage daughter was bullied over her hearing aids and was getting in trouble in class because she couldn't hear her teachers. More than two years later, the case lacks a resolution. Under the changes announced Tuesday, the Department of Justice will take over civil rights enforcement in schools, and the Department of Health and Human Services will oversee special education. The moves help fulfill Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the Education Department. Linda McMahon, the education secretary, pitched the changes as a way to get more help to families of kids with disabilities. Advocates said special education doesn't belong in a health department, which usually treats disabilities as conditions to manage, instead of differences in how children learn. The top Republican on the Senate education committee agreed, saying he'd pursue legislation to keep special education out of Health and Human Services. Some families already are taking discrimination cases elsewhere For many, though, the response to the announcement was a sigh of resignation. The Education Department's civil rights office had long been the last resort for parents who believe their child is facing discrimination at school, with a mandate to review all complaints. Under Trump, the backlog of cases has ballooned, and resolutions have dwindled. Increasingly, attorneys say they are turning elsewhere to try to obtain justice for children. The reaction is a marked change from a year ago, when parents and attorneys were in a panic as Education Department staff and attorneys were slashed. READ MORE: Trump moves special education and civil rights oversight out of Education Departme