The recent findings by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) regarding Michigan’s handling of compensatory services for students with disabilities during the pandemic underscore a critical issue in educational equity and compliance with federal disability rights laws. As educators and advocates, we are deeply concerned about the implications of this decision on the broader landscape of special education services. OCR’s determination that Michigan violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by inadequately providing compensatory services to students, particularly those at the Michigan School for the Deaf, highlights systemic challenges exacerbated by COVID-19 disruptions. It will be interesting to see how the Michigan Department of Education will respond to OCR’s findings.
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According to OCR’s May 23 notice, the information that the Michigan Department of Education provided to districts about compensatory services for students with disabilities who have individualized education programs “was inconsistent with the requirements of Section 504 and its implementing regulations.”
