ASHA - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

06/17/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2026 10:12

Education Department Shifting Some Responsibility for Key Special Education Programs: What It Could Mean for Students and Providers

Education Department Shifting Some Responsibility for Key Special Education Programs: What It Could Mean for Students and Providers

June 17, 2026

The Top Line: The U.S. Department of Education has announced it is shifting most of the programmatic functions of several education-related programs, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), over to other government agencies.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has announced new partnerships with federal agencies that would shift responsibility for several education-related programs and functions, including oversight of special education programs and enforcement of education-related civil rights protections.

Under the announced framework, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs currently administered by ED would be coordinated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Civil rights enforcement for programs such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) would be coordinated with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This DOJ coordination includes some functions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) related to student privacy.

According to the Administration, the changes are intended to strengthen coordination among federal programs serving individuals with disabilities and improve enforcement of civil rights laws.

These developments could have important implications for students with disabilities and the systems that support access to services.

Why This Matters

ED has long overseen implementation of IDEA, the federal law that helps ensure eligible children receive special education and related services. Although the administration has stated that IDEA protections and services will continue, questions remain about how federal oversight, technical assistance, compliance activities, and civil rights enforcement responsibilities will operate under the proposed structure.

School-based audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a critical role in helping students access a free appropriate public education through evaluations, intervention services, accommodations, and participation in individualized education programs (IEPs).

Because federal agencies help establish guidance, monitor state compliance, investigate complaints, and administer funding, changes to those responsibilities could affect the systems that support students, families, schools, and providers.

What This Means Right Now: At this time, there are no announced changes to IDEA eligibility, individualized family service plans or IEP requirements, Section 504 plans, or the availability of early intervention or school-based audiology and speech-language pathology services. Students' rights and protections under federal law remain in place while additional details about the Administration's proposed changes are released.

What We Don't Know Yet

How the transition will be implemented.

ED has not released comprehensive details regarding timelines, staffing, organizational structures, and agency responsibilities.

Whether guidance and technical assistance will change.

It remains unclear how states, school districts, and providers will receive policy guidance, training, and implementation support during and after the transition.

How civil rights complaint investigations may be affected.

ED has not released additional information about how complaints involving students with disabilities will be processed and monitored under the new structure. The Administration claims that the current requirements will remain in place.

Whether administration of federal special education funding will change.

While IDEA remains in place, ED has not yet announced comprehensive details about future administration of grants, monitoring activities, and compliance oversight.

What the long-term impact will be on students, families, and providers.

Stakeholders continue to assess how these changes may affect access to services, consistency of federal oversight, and implementation of disability-related protections across states and school districts.

What ASHA Is Doing

ASHA is reviewing the administration's announcement and monitoring implementation efforts to better understand the potential impact on audiologists, SLPs, students, and families.

This work builds on ASHA's recent advocacy with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, where ASHA emphasized the importance of maintaining strong federal protections under IDEA and Section 504, supporting individualized decision-making for students, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring that federal guidance reflects the full accessibility needs of children and students with disabilities.

ASHA has long advocated for preserving ED's central role in ensuring that every student has access to the education, services, and supports they need to succeed. As responsibilities are shifted across federal agencies, ASHA will continue to advocate for strong federal protections, clear guidance, and consistent enforcement of disability-related protections.

ASHA remains committed to protecting access to high-quality audiology and speech-language pathology services in schools and ensuring that children and students with disabilities continue to receive the services and supports guaranteed under federal law.

ASHA will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.

Additional Resources

Questions?

Email [email protected].


ASHA - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association published this content on June 17, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 17, 2026 at 16:12 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]