The federal government is actively dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. One direct impact of this on students here in Pennsylvania is the closing of the Pennsylvania Office of Civil Rights, which was a part of the federal Department of Education. According to state lawmakers, if a student in Pennsylvania files a complaint about not receiving the resources they are legally entitled to, the case would now be handled by an office in Atlanta, if it was investigated at all.

Students have rights and those rights need to be protected. State Sen. Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), the minority chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, announced that she will introduce legislation to create an Office of Civil Rights within the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This legislation will authorize the state to investigate and enforce students’ federal civil rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other federal education laws. We hope that state lawmakers approve this legislation to ensure that all Pennsylvania students—including those who are the most vulnerable—receive the education that they are entitled to and have their rights protected.