Changes to federal funding could leave millions of high school students without the support they need to succeed.
Across the country, teachers and parents are worried after President Donald Trump’s admin plans to cut funding for special education programs. These programs, which support millions of students with disabilities, play a big role in making education fair and available in high schools. The special education funding was intended to support the salaries of special education teachers and related service personnel, such as speech therapists and psychologists, as well as to cover the costs of creating an individualized education program (IEP) for each student. However, under Trump’s new budget plan, that support could be reduced. By cutting it, it would weaken federal oversight and enforcement of the IDEA. This means that specific programs, such as teacher training, could lose their own funding, resulting in a lack of support for those students, which will cause a domino effect of those students falling behind.
The Department of Education has also experienced a lot of staff cuts, including many employees who ensure schools for special education laws. This may cause students not to get the services they have a right to. The National Education Association president, Becky Pringle, stated, “By cutting staff and funding, the government is turning its back on millions of children with disabilities.¨
For high school, this might mean larger classes. This could lead to not a lot of 1:1 time with the teacher and student. A lot of parents are worried that without the right amount of money, their kids could fall behind academically and won’t be able to reach their full potential.
People who agree with the plan argue that this cut gives the local government more range to decide how they use the money. But critics believe that by doing this, it will only increase inequality between private schools and public schools. The private school may have the funds to be able to fill in the gaps, while the majority of public schools will have a hard time giving even foundational support.
The effects of this funding will start to show. Supporters of this cut are saying that this will lead to more flexibility for schools, while critics are worried that this could hinder access to services for students with disabilities. No matter what side you agree with, these changes are expected to have an influence on how schools give support and resources for students in need.
