My family depends on the protections that federal special education law guarantees. Right now, the Trump administration is moving the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services out of the Department of Education and restructuring the Office of Civil Rights — the two main offices that actually make sure schools follow the law. For Connecticut families with kids who have IEPs or 504 plans, this isn't an abstract policy fight. It means fewer people watching whether our schools are meeting their legal obligations, and fewer places for families to turn when something goes wrong.
Connecticut has always taken pride in doing right by all students. But when federal enforcement weakens, the burden falls on states. If Washington stops holding schools accountable, families here are left navigating a system on their own — often against districts with far more legal resources. Kids with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and emotional needs don't stop needing services just because an office in Washington gets reorganized. Teachers and specialists in our state work hard, but they need a system that backs them up too, not one that's quietly being hollowed out.
I'm asking you to introduce or co-sponsor state legislation that locks Connecticut's special education enforcement standards into state law, so our kids are protected no matter what happens in Washington. Connecticut families shouldn't have to wonder whether their child's rights still exist.
