US Education Department layoffs could lead to larger class sizes and fewer resources for special needs students

The recent layoffs at the US Department of Education, affecting nearly 50% of its workforce, are raising concerns among educators. The cuts are expected to exacerbate teacher shortages, increase class sizes, and reduce resources for special needs and multilingual students. With funding cuts affecting critical programs like IDEA and Title 1, educators worry about the negative impact on vulnerable students, including the loss of specialized staff and support systems in schools, as reported by ABC News.