Sec DeVos Refrains From Asking For Waiver of Major IDEA Provisions

Several school districts and education organizations pushed U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to request waivers for major provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

In a report sent to Congress this week, Secretary DeVos did request minor easing of some administrative deadlines but refrained from gutting provisions that some complained were impossible to meet during closures due to the COVID-19 virus.

The Department is not requesting waiver authority for any of the core tenets of the IDEA or Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, most notably a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in
the least restrictive environment (LRE).

Congress could, if they wish, ignore the Secretary’s recommendation.