Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Students with Disabilities and Ensure Continued Special Education Programs in Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act to ensure that special education programs within the U.S. Department of Education continue, despite the Trump Administration's repeated efforts to gut the Department. The legislation reaffirms the Department's statutory responsibilities under the landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and prevents the Administration from weakening enforcement or disrupting critical services for students with disabilities.

"Every child with a disability deserves an individualized learning plan so that they can be the best they can be," said Kaine. "The Trump Administration's decision to gut special education programs within the Department of Education, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which was already significantly underfunded to begin with, will devastate our students. I'm proud to join my colleagues in supporting the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act so students with disabilities and educators are protected and have the resources they need to succeed."

The introduction was led by U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD). In addition to Kaine, the bill is cosponsored by Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Leading advocacy organizations, including the?American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), and EdTrust, support the legislation.

As a member of HELP, Kaine has long supported equitable access to education for students with disabilities. In July, Kaine introduced the Charting My Path to Future Success Act that would restore cancelled federal funding designed to help students with disabilities succeed in adulthood. In April, Kaine and colleagues wrote a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasizing the immense harm shuttering the Department of Education would have on the millions of students with disabilities across the United States. Also in April, Kaine cosponsored the IDEA Full Funding Act, legislation that would ensure Congress fulfills its commitment to fully fund the IDEA.

Full text of the legislation is available here.

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