U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Assistant Secretary for the Office of Civil Rights and Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Kimberly Richey visited Winding Creek Elementary School in Stafford, Virginia to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
During their visit, McMahon, Youngkin, and Richey took part in a celebration with students recognizing IDEA's impact. They emphasized Winding Creek’s achievements in supporting students with disabilities, who make up about 12.5% of its student body. Over the past three years, these students have seen an increase in history proficiency from 56% to 78%, surpassing state targets in reading, science, and history.
The delegation toured classrooms where special and general education teachers worked together to deliver instruction based on reading science and provided specialized support in small groups. The tour included observation of inclusive classrooms where children with and without disabilities learned grade-level content together.
“It was an honor to visit students today alongside Governor Youngkin and Assistant Secretary Richey to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – a landmark piece of legislation which has transformed public education for children with disabilities and their families,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “We are encouraged by Winding Creek’s success in delivering innovative and effective services to students with disabilities. As we look ahead to the next fifty years of IDEA, the Trump Administration is committed to ensuring all students have equal access to an education that meets their individual and unique needs.”
Governor Youngkin reflected on progress made during his administration: “Since Day One, our administration has worked to restore excellence in education so that every student is on track for success. Nowhere is that more important than in our work to support our students with special needs,” he said. “When we came into office, the Commonwealth was under federal monitoring and embroiled in a lawsuit due to the prior lack of responsiveness to families of children with disabilities. Today, thanks to collaborative efforts with the General Assembly to make record investments and the diligence and hard work of the Virginia Department of Education to implement best practices in every aspect of special education, parents are now more engaged and informed, and Virginia is a national leader in dispute resolution. As we celebrate 50 years of IDEA, I want to thank the parents, teachers, administrators, and, of course, the students, for their tremendous commitment to educational excellence for everyone.”
IDEA became law on November 29, 1975. It ensures free appropriate public education for eligible children with disabilities nationwide by funding grants for states’ special education services as well as early intervention programs for infants and toddlers.
