Hyperfocus: The uncertain future of special education in the United States

Last month, the Trump administration laid off over 460 people in the U.S. Department of Education. It included nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which enforces federal special education laws. 

A federal judge has temporarily halted the layoffs, but it’s unclear what will happen next. For people who work in or rely on special education services — including 7.5 million kids — the chaos and worry have already begun.

So on this week’s Hyperfocus, we wanted to talk to smart people who could give us some perspective on what’s happening. What could it mean for families and for schools? And what does it say about how the administration views neurodivergent people in general?

Our guests are Meghan Whittaker, a former chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Education, and Julian Saavedra, an assistant principal. 

For more on this topic: 

• What the special education layoffs mean for your child’s IEP and school services
• What happens to my child’s IEP if the U.S. Department of Education closes?
• The R-word is back: How do you get people to care? 
• Special education: Federal law vs. state law

Timestamps:

(03:04) A breakdown of the layoffs

(10:16) How worry is already hitting families and schools

(18:02) What to know about school vouchers

(29:50) “Find your space to serve”

For a transcript and more resources, visit Hyperfocus on Understood.org. You can also email us at hyperfocus@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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