With Public Education Under Attack, NCYL And COPAA Demand Department of Education Provide Answers and Transparency
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seek records regarding troubling changes at Department of Education
The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) condemned the Senate’s confirmation Monday of Linda McMahon as the nation’s next Secretary of Education. Secretary McMahon has publicly voiced her support for dismantling the Department of Education, actions that would imperil public education and jeopardize the civil rights and educational opportunities of all students across the country.
“Linda McMahon’s confirmation is a troubling development that will undermine the government’s commitment to public schools — institutions that have long served as beacons of opportunity for all of America’s children and are foundational to our nation’s social compact,” said Shakti Belway, NCYL's Executive Director. “Our children deserve a Department of Education that actively supports every student’s right to learn. If it fails to uphold its legal obligations, we will not hesitate to use every tool at our disposal to defend the well-being of children.”
“We are deeply concerned about the impact on students, especially the anticipated rollback of civil rights protections and changes in federal funding practices that will surely wreak havoc on the school systems that provide educational access and opportunity for millions of children with disabilities,” added Denise Marshall, CEO of COPAA. “At a time when many schools are already under-resourced, the stakes could not be higher. The focus now should be on how to improve, not dismantle, education.”
NCYL and COPAA have taken immediate action by filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking records that pertain to recent troubling changes at the Department of Education. These changes include the firing of key agency staff, the cancelation of important educational contracts, and disruptions within the Department’s Office for Civil Rights. The FOIA requests reflect NCYL’s commitment to transparency and to ensuring that federal education policies protect the rights of students, including those in high-poverty schools, students with disabilities, and students who rely on civil rights enforcement to access public education services. Given these changes, NCYL and COPAA have also requested an urgent meeting with Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.
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The National Center for Youth Law centers youth through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation's approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every child thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) is an independent, nonprofit organization of more than 3,500 parents, attorneys, advocates, and related professionals; more than 90% of whom identify as having a disability or are parents or family members of individuals with disabilities. COPAA members are active in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories and work to protect student civil rights.
