Parents of students with disabilities are worried about what comes next after President Trump ordered Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start dismantling the Department of Education. Arizona schools alone received around $227 million last year for special education through the federal government’s funding. But with the department now facing cuts, there’s a lot of uncertainty about whether that funding will continue.
While Trump promised that key programs, like special education, would be “preserved in full,” the funds will be shifted to other agencies. That’s causing a lot of anxiety among parents, teachers, and advocates who rely on this crucial support.
Paul McDonald, a consultant for parents of kids with disabilities, shared his concerns, saying that local schools might not have the resources to pick up the slack. The worry is that, with fewer federal funds, schools will struggle even more to provide necessary services like speech therapy or assistive devices.
There’s also the added stress of paperwork and delays in services, with advocates advising parents to get everything in writing while they can.
Some local leaders, like Arizona’s Superintendent Tom Horne, seem to support Trump’s move, believing state control over education would be better. But advocacy groups aren’t as optimistic, fearing that these cuts could hurt special education services and leave parents with fewer options when it comes to dealing with discrimination or bullying in schools.
In short, many are nervous that these changes will only add more obstacles for families already navigating a complicated system.
Trump’s Plan to Dismantle Education Department Leaves Parents Concerned
