The U.S. Department of Education announced four new interagency agreements with the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Justice (DOJ) aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy and improving the delivery of federally funded programs that support students and families.
One agreement expands collaboration between the Department of Education and HHS on special education and rehabilitative services. The partnership is intended to improve coordination of resources, reduce administrative barriers, and support better educational, employment, and independent living outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The Department emphasized that the federal government’s responsibility to enforce disability rights laws and provide support services remains unchanged under the agreement.
The Department also announced a civil rights enforcement partnership with DOJ. Under this agreement, the two agencies will coordinate efforts related to the evaluation, investigation, and resolution of civil rights complaints, with the stated goal of strengthening enforcement of federal civil rights laws in schools. The Department noted that enforcement activities will continue without interruption and that the Department of Education will retain its statutory authorities and responsibilities.
In addition, the Department and DOJ established partnerships focused on student privacy protection and training and advisory services. The student privacy initiative will support coordinated guidance and investigations related to privacy and parental rights obligations. The training and advisory services partnership will leverage DOJ’s expertise in assisting schools with desegregation planning and implementation. Collectively, the Department described these agreements as efforts to improve coordination, increase efficiency, and strengthen support for students, families, and educational institutions.
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