Trump Education Department Dismantling: Special Education Impact with Kalyn Belsha
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
01/06/25
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In this timely and crucial episode, I sit down with Kalyn Belsha, senior national reporter for Chalkbeat, to unpack the potential impacts of Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the Department of Education. We explore how this could specifically affect students with disabilities, from changes in civil rights complaint processes to funding distributions and staffing challenges. Kayln breaks down complex policy implications into clear, actionable insights, explaining how the shift could transform education from federal to state control.
Our conversation covers critical topics for you, including:
➡️How civil rights complaints might shift from investigations to lawsuits
➡️The potential move to state-controlled block grants for education funding
➡️Current staffing shortages in special education and potential solutions
➡️The role of advocacy at state and local levels
Whether you're an educator, administrator, or caregiver, this episode offers valuable perspective on navigating potential changes while continuing to support students with disabilities. We conclude the episode with an uplifting discussion about educator resilience and the importance of supporting teachers during challenging times.
Episode Mentions:
Kalyn’s Recommended Resources:
- Senate HELP committee (senators to write to with suggested questions for Linda McMahon on serving children with disabilities)
- parent groups and organizations that support families of children with disabilities by state
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
- The Center for Learner Equity
- Special education staffing shortages put students’ futures at risk. How to solve that is tricky. By Kalyn Belsha | November 19, 2024
- Ending the U.S. Department of Education: What it would mean and why Trump and Project 2025 want it By Erica Meltzer | August 23, 2024
- Many young kids missed early special ed services due to COVID, compounding work for schools By Kalyn Belsha | May 24, 2023
- Educators see struggling students. After a pandemic year, do they need extra help or services for a disability? By Kalyn Belsha | September 1, 2021
#Chalkbeat #SpecialEducation #IDEA #EducationPolicy #TeacherShortage #SpecialEd #Advocacy #StudentRights #DisabilityRights #EducationEquity #ParentAdvocacy #CivilRights #EducationNews #SpecialEducationTeacher #ParaProfessional #SchoolPolicy #StudentServices #InclusiveEducation #EducationReform #K12Education
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
In this bonus episode, I reflect on my S4E17 conversation with educator Kass Minor and explore the urgent need for transformative education in 2025. I discuss The Minor Collective's community-based approach to education and highlight key insights from Kass's blog about preparing students for real-world challenges alongside revisions to the NYS Portrait of a Graduate. Drawing from recent research and a New York Times guest essay, Giving Kids Some Autonomy Has Surprising Results by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, the co-authors of The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better.
I examine why student autonomy and agency are crucial for engagement and success. I share practical strategies for educators and caregivers to create learning environments where students can:
➡️develop essential life skills,
➡️navigate diverse perspectives,
➡️and pursue their curiosities while meeting academic goals.
This episode offers a hopeful yet pragmatic vision for education that extends beyond traditional academics to help students thrive in an increasingly complex world.
#KassMinor #CorneliusMinor #TheMinorCollective #RadicallyProKid #TeachingFiercely #TeacherAgency #SocialJusticeEducation #EdChat #Education #StudentAgency, #AuthenticLearning
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
In this bonus episode I reflect on my S4E18 interview with Kalyn Belsha, a senior national reporter for Chalkbeat, focusing on Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the Department of Education and its potential impact on students with disabilities.
I break down Erica Meltzer's article about ending the U.S. Department of Education and share Kalyn’s valuable recommended resources for you to take action, including links to:
➡️the Senate HELP Committee,
➡️disability advocacy groups,
➡️and state-specific parent support organizations.
#Chalkbeat #SpecialEducation #IDEA #EducationPolicy #TeacherShortage #SpecialEd #Advocacy #StudentRights #DisabilityRights #SchoolStaffing #EducationEquity #TeacherSupport #ParentAdvocacy #CivilRights #EducationNews #SpecialEducationTeacher #ParaProfessional #SchoolPolicy #StudentServices #InclusiveEducation #EducationReform #K12Education
👉Check out my episode with Kalyn here!
New episodes are released every Monday, with a bonus solo episode on Fridays featuring research-backed coaching and teaching strategies you can apply right away to better serve the children in your care.
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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Thank you for listening!
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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