This week, we’re joined by longtime special education advocate Elizabeth Yancy Bostic to discuss what could happen for students with disabilities if federal oversight and enforcement of IDEA are scaled back. Drawing on more than two decades of experience supporting families, including her own, as they navigate services, Elizabeth explains why strong oversight matters and what is at risk for students and districts when those safeguards erode.Then, on the Research Minute, David Griffith shares a study from Sweden that tracks the long-term outcomes of students attending for-profit versus nonprofit charter high schools.Recommended content: <ul><li><a href='https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-educational-exile-how-trumps-layoffs-threaten-students-with-disabilities/2025/10'>‘Educational exile’: How Trump’s layoffs threaten students with disabilities</a> — Susan Haas, Education Week</li><li><a href='https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/crpe-special-education-great-diagnosis-wrong-prescription'>CRPE on special education: Great diagnosis, wrong prescription</a> — Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham Institute</li><li><a href='https://petterandersberg-93.github.io/main/pb_jmp.pdf'>Schooling for Profit: Long-run Effects of Private Providers in Public Education</a> —Petter Berg (2025) </li></ul>Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week, we’re joined by longtime special education advocate Elizabeth Yancy Bostic to discuss what could happen for students with disabilities if federal oversight and enforcement of IDEA are scaled back. Drawing on more than two decades of experience supporting families, including her own, as they navigate services, Elizabeth explains why strong oversight matters and what is at risk for students and districts when those safeguards erode.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Then, on the Research Minute, David Griffith shares a study from Sweden that tracks the long-term outcomes of students attending for-profit versus nonprofit charter high schools.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommended content:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-educational-exile-how-trumps-layoffs-threaten-students-with-disabilities/2025/10'&gt;‘Educational exile’: How Trump’s layoffs threaten students with disabilities&lt;/a&gt; — Susan Haas, Education Week&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href='https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/crpe-special-education-great-diagnosis-wrong-prescription'&gt;CRPE on special education: Great diagnosis, wrong prescription&lt;/a&gt; — Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham Institute&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href='https://petterandersberg-93.github.io/main/pb_jmp.pdf'&gt;Schooling for Profit: Long-run Effects of Private Providers in Public Education&lt;/a&gt; —Petter Berg (2025) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Feedback Welcome:&lt;/b&gt; Have ideas for improving our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org&lt;/p&gt;</description>

This week, we’re joined by longtime special education advocate Elizabeth Yancy Bostic to discuss what could happen for students with disabilities if federal oversight and enforcement of IDEA are scaled back. Drawing on more than two decades of experience supporting families, including her own, as they navigate services, Elizabeth explains why strong oversight matters and what is at risk for students and districts when those safeguards erode. Then, on the Research Minute, David Griffith shares...

The Education Gadfly Show

What’s at stake if federal oversight of IDEA weakens? | Episode 994 of The Education Gadfly Show

What’s at stake if federal oversight of IDEA weakens? | Episode 994 of The Education Gadfly Show

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