Federal special education staff may get their jobs back. But for how long?

"The deal Congress reached to re-open the federal government requires the Trump administration to reinstate federal workers who were fired in October, including those charged with overseeing the nation's special education laws. But it's not clear how long they'll be back. As NPR has reported, the Office for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) inside the U.S. Department of Education is the central nervous system for programs that support students with disabilities."

"OSERS can't do its job without staff, and, according to a new Education Department filing, the office lost 121 of its 135 employees in the October reduction-in-force. That matters because, while Wednesday's funding agreement will return those workers to "employment status" as of Sept. 30, there appears to be little protecting them after Jan. 30, when that provision expires. "We are concerned special education will cease to exist," says Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities."

"The Education Department did not answer specific questions from NPR about whether workers who were cut in October would be allowed to resume their work, as opposed to being put on administrative leave, or if the department would try to fire them again after the deal expires. The department offered only this statement: "The Department has brought back staff that were impacted by the Schumer Shutdown. The Department will follow all applicable laws.""

The federal funding deal requires reinstatement of federal workers fired in October, including those overseeing special education laws. The Office for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) administers programs supporting students with disabilities and enforces state compliance with IDEA. OSERS lost 121 of 135 employees in the October reduction-in-force, leaving the office unable to function fully. The funding agreement returns those workers to employment status as of Sept. 30 but offers little protection after Jan. 30, when that provision expires. Education Department communications were limited to a brief statement about following applicable laws. The Office for Civil Rights has also seen big cuts.

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