Chairman Scott Statement on Court Ruling Vacating DeVos Delay of IDEA Rule
Chairman Scott: “Today’s court ruling is a major victory for students and parents and an important step toward ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality, equitable education in a safe and healthy environment”
WASHINGTON – Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia vacated the Education Department’s delay of the Equity in IDEA rule. The Obama-era rule, which Secretary DeVos had delayed for two years, helps schools address persistent and pervasive disparities in identification, placement, and discipline of students of color with disabilities.
“Today’s court ruling is a major victory for students and parents and an important step toward ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality, equitable education in a safe and healthy environment. The Equity in IDEA rule is necessary to address the over-representation, inappropriate placement, and over-discipline of students of color in special education. By forcing the Trump administration to implement the rule, the court’s ruling will put us back on a track toward reversing systemic racial discrimination in education.
"The court’s ruling confirms our suspicion that the Education Department’s delay of the Equity in IDEA rule had no basis in evidence or facts. It is troubling that the Department delayed this critical rule without fulfilling its legal responsibility to provide a rational justification.
“The many parents, teachers, students, elected officials, and civil rights advocates who opposed the delay will rightly celebrate today’s ruling. Tomorrow, we must return to the difficult work of reducing educational disparities for children of color with disabilities and holding the Trump administration accountable for implementing this important rule.”
###
Press Contact
Democratic Press Office, 202-226-0853
Next Article Previous Article