Federal Oversight, District Compliance, and IDEA Waivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study

• In Event: Law and Education SIG Roundtable Session

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced school systems to quickly convert face-to-face instruction to various remote learning formats. For students with disabilities, school districts had to comply and adhere to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) within a virtual space. However, there are areas of education practice where states and school districts have discretionary powers granted by the federal government within an education federalism framework. Accordingly, this article provides an analysis of how the COVID-19 pandemic served as a test to determine if the federal government, within an education federalism context, provided compliance leeway to states. We specifically report on how the U.S. Department of Education and Office for Civil Rights addressed IDEA compliance during the height of the pandemic.

Authors

• Natasha M Strassfeld, The University of Texas

• Catherine Kramarczuk Voulgarides, Hunter College