US Education Dept lays off 466 staff, special education services impacted nationwide

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which supports millions of people with disabilities, has been severely impacted by federal government layoffs amid the ongoing shutdown, leaving the office mostly empty except for some top officials. This has raised concerns among parents and advocates as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), designed to ensure children with disabilities receive appropriate education, faces staffing and funding cuts that threaten its enforcement and support. Meanwhile, special education schools like Yarrow Heights in the UK continue to receive outstanding evaluations for their personalized and effective approach to supporting neurodivergent students. Internationally, there is a growing call, such as in Jamaica, for teacher training programs to incorporate special education modules to better prepare educators to support neurodivergent learners, addressing gaps in current educational practices. These developments highlight the challenges and disparities in special education provision both domestically and globally, underscoring the need for sustained support and training to meet the needs of students with disabilities.