U.S. Department of Education makes massive layoffs, Illinois organizations react

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — President Donald Trump's pledge to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education is in full swing.

Tuesday evening, the department laid off over 1,300 staff members.

The Illinois Education Association President, Albert Llorens, told me the cuts can negatively impact a variety of Illinois programs, including funding for disabled students.

“I'm devastated for the kids that it's going to impact, Llorens said. “I'm devastated for the families, and those who want to do better in life and use education as a way to a piece of the American dream.”

The elimination of the U.S. Department of Education could lead to the loss of federal funding for Illinois education initiatives like the Disabilities Education Act. The act ensures disabled students receive a quality and free education.

Llorens said students will suffer without the funding.

“I even asked the question, ‘well can the state just jump in and supply all that money?’” Llorens said. “The bottom line is our public schools are 80% percent of them are underfunded at this point.”

The Illinois Education Association said nearly 300,000 students benefit from funding from the Disabilities Education Act.

Samantha Alloway with the Arc of Illinois, an advocacy group for people with disabilities said, funding loss will cause a gap in inclusion.

“ It's often sometimes the first time that students without disabilities are exposed to children with disabilities,” Alloway said.

Alloway added disabled students deserve access to quality education.

“Just equity and just civil rights,” Alloway said. “Human centered rights of having a disability doesn’t give you any less rights. [I] say that once, say that 1,000 times, then anybody who happens to not have a disability.”

Llorens said the state of Illinois needs to take a stand on the importance of the department of education

“Let them know exactly who these things are impacting,” Llorens said. “Give them a face, this is not about a building in Washington D.C. “...This is about kids and families, and none of our kids are going to gain from this move.”

Alloway said the state of Illinois should start looking at other sources of revenue to prepare for the department shutdown.

Members from the U.S. Department of Education will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21st.