Washington Update, June 10, 2024
We are back after the Memorial Day recess and it’s off to the races in Congress. This week, we highlight key developments in education and civil rights. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) on college support for students with disabilities. The report notes that the percentage of students with disabilities nearly doubled from 2004 to 2020. Additionally, the US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights reported a record high number of discrimination complaints in FY2023. In the states, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' expansion of school choice has increased enrollments in private, charter, and homeschooling, leading to declining public-school enrollments and potential campus closures. This initiative aims to reshape Florida's education system and has influenced similar efforts in other GOP-leaning states. Let’s get to it.
1. GAO Releases New Report on Students with Disabilities in Higher Education
Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report today following a request by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to examine how colleges and universities are supporting students with disabilities to access higher education. The report highlights challenges facing college students with disabilities and makes recommendations on how to better support them. As outlined in a press release issued by Senator Hassan (D-NH), the percentage of college students with disabilities almost doubled between 2004 and 2020, increasing from 11 to 21 percent. This increase has been largely driven by the number of students with mental health conditions, such as depression and attention deficit disorder. The report also notes that students with disabilities face barriers in accessing necessary accommodations and graduate from college at lower rates than those without disabilities.
Noting the importance of the findings from the GAO report, Senator Casey (D-PA) said in part:
“I called for this report to learn more about the experiences of higher education students with disabilities, the barriers they face, and how we can best ensure they are able to achieve their educational goals…While the report makes clear that more students with disabilities are attending higher education than ever before, significant barriers remain to obtaining a degree and earning what they deserve. We have an obligation to try to tear down those barriers and ensure that every American student can reach their full potential.”
You can read the full report here
2. OCR Receives Record-Breaking number of Discrimination Complaints in FY23
Last month, the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights reported it received a record-breaking 19,201 discrimination complaints in FY2023, marking a 2 percent increase from the previous year's high. Despite having a lean staff, the office resolved 16,448 of those cases. Primary issues ranged from discrimination based on race and national origin under Title VI to sex or gender discrimination under Title IX. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon expressed disappointment at the ongoing need for enforcement but found inspiration in school communities' dedication to ensuring fair access to education for all students. “The continued need for reminders and enforcement of these core civil rights requirements is disheartening,” said Assistant Secretary Lhamon.
3. In the States: Florida’s School Choice Model is Leading to the closures of some public school Campuses
Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans have significantly expanded school choice options, leading to a substantial increase in private, charter, and homeschooling enrollment across the state. This shift has resulted in declining enrollments in some of Florida's largest school districts, leading some school districts left with the difficult decision to close several campuses as funding follows students. Governor DeSantis' focus on school choice is part of a broader effort to reshape Florida's education system and has inspired similar initiatives in other GOP-leaning states.
One last very important item to note: The TED Policy Committee has been hard at work! Make sure to visit the TED Policy and Advocacy Portal to check out our NEW resources for assisting with policy and advocacy! The members of the Policy Committee have generated NEW Advocacy Briefs to help you take advantage of resources available from TED and CEC and incorporate advocacy into your teaching! And make sure to listen to the Collaboration Podcast!
Only a few more weeks until the first Presidential Debate! Buckle up, folks.
Until next time, you can find me on X,
@brennan_kait
Kait
Have a question about Washington Update? Want to chat education policy? Email me, let’s grab a virtual coffee: kbrennan@kbstrategies.org
