Shift in Federal Coordination for Special Education and Civil Rights Enforcement

On June 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced new partnerships with other federal agencies that will change how certain education programs and investigations are handled.

ED stated that it will work more closely with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on special education and services for students with disabilities. According to ED, the goal is to better coordinate support, reduce red tape, and improve outcomes for students and families. While HHS will play a larger role, ED stated that it will continue to be responsible for enforcing special education laws.

ED also stated that it is expanding its partnership with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on civil rights enforcement, including work typically handled by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Under this approach, ED explained that DOJ will assist with complaint investigations and enforcement efforts related to discrimination in schools. ED emphasized that it will retain its legal authority, but enforcement will be more closely coordinated with DOJ.

What this means: ED stated that these changes are intended to improve efficiency and coordination across agencies. In practice, schools and districts may see increased involvement from multiple federal agencies in special education and civil rights matters, which could affect how complaints and compliance issues are addressed.

Click here to view the full ED press release.

We will continue to monitor these changes, including any lawsuits filed to stop this process, and share updates as more details become available. If you have questions about these updates or their implications for school district practices, please contact the Education team at Miller Johnson.