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October 24, 2017

Department of Education Rescinds Papers on Rights of Disabled Students
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The Department of Education has revoked 72 policy documents detailing
the rights of disabled students, calling them "outdated, unnecessary, or
ineffective." The documents spelled out ways that schools should comply
with two civil rights laws-the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act. Among the documents rescinded was one
offering guidance to schools on how to use federal funds for special
education. A spokesperson for Education Secretary Betsy De Vos declined
to comment on the changes. During her confirmation hearings last
January, De Vos told senators that states should be left to decide
whether to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
That prompted a follow-up question to De Vos by New Hampshire Democrat
Maggie Hassan.

Sen. Maggie Hassan: "I want to go back to the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act. That's a federal civil rights law. So do you
stand by your statement a few minutes ago that it should be up to the
states whether to follow it?"

Betsy De Vos: "The law must be-federal law must be followed where
federal dollars are in-in play."

Sen. Maggie Hassan: "So were you unaware, when I just asked you about
the IDEA, that it was a federal law?"

Betsy De Vos: "I may have confused it."



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