Trump Education Department Dismantling: Special Education Impact with Kalyn Belsha

Olivia Wahl

06 January 2025

In this timely and crucial episode, I sit down with Kalyn Belsha, senior national reporter for Chalkbeat, to unpack the potential impacts of Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the Department of Education. We explore how this could specifically affect students with disabilities, from changes in civil rights complaint processes to funding distributions and staffing challenges. Kayln breaks down complex policy implications into clear, actionable insights, explaining how the shift could transform education from federal to state control.  Our conversation covers critical topics for you, including: ➡️How civil rights complaints might shift from investigations to lawsuits ➡️The potential move to state-controlled block grants for education funding ➡️Current staffing shortages in special education and potential solutions ➡️The role of advocacy at state and local levels Whether you're an educator, administrator, or caregiver, this episode offers valuable perspective on navigating potential changes while continuing to support students with disabilities. We conclude the episode with an uplifting discussion about educator resilience and the importance of supporting teachers during challenging times. Episode Mentions:  Constance A. Lindsay Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)Kalyn’s Recommended Resources: Senate HELP committee (senators to write to with suggested questions for Linda McMahon on serving children with disabilities)parent groups and organizations that support families of children with disabilities by state National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) The Center for Learner Equity Special education staffing shortages put students’ futures at risk. How to solve that is tricky. By Kalyn Belsha | November 19, 2024Ending the U.S. Department of Education: What it would mean and why Trump and Project 2025 want it By Erica Meltzer | August 23, 2024Many young kids missed early special ed services due to COVID, compounding work for schools By Kalyn Belsha | May 24, 2023Educators see struggling students. After a pandemic year, do they need extra help or services for a disability? By Kalyn Belsha | September 1, 2021 #Chalkbeat #SpecialEducation #IDEA #EducationPolicy #TeacherShortage #SpecialEd #Advocacy #StudentRights #DisabilityRights #EducationEquity #ParentAdvocacy #CivilRights #EducationNews #SpecialEducationTeacher #ParaProfessional #SchoolPolicy #StudentServices #InclusiveEducation #EducationReform #K12Education  When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.