Education Dept. caves, restores website for disabled kids Washington senators demanded Trump education chief restore IDEA site

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., with friendlier president. Murray led opposition to Senate confirmation of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and pressed DeVos over three week disappearance of a website explaining to parents and educators workings of and rights under the fedeal Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA)., SeattlePI.com less Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., with friendlier president. Murray led opposition to Senate confirmation of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and pressed DeVos over three week disappearance of a website ... more Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Education Dept. caves, restores website for disabled kids 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Friday announced that her department is restoring and "updating" a resource website for parents and teachers of students with disabilities, which has been down almost three weeks.

"IDEA.ed.gov has been repaired and moved to a new server to ensure it's available to parents and educators who rely on it," DeVos said in one of a series of tweets.

The education secretary had come under pressure from Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. The senators sent DeVos a letter last week asking that the site be restored fully and immediately, and for an explanation of why it was down.

DeVos struck a partisan note, in what has seemed to be a Trump administration strategy: Blame Obama.

She said the federal Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA) website was "neglected for nearly four years." This, she said, is "unacceptable" and "an example of complacency I won't accept, and I will remain committed to improving the department and its services."

In the Washington Post, on Friday, DeVos was quoted as saying critics "want to make my life a living hell."

Murray, a trenchant critic, said in a statement that the point is not political blame, but providing information to students and educators, particularly about citizens' rights under the federal disability law.

"I heard from parents who had been impacted by the absence of this critical resource, and I pushed Secretary DeVos to get it back up, to explain what had happened, and to make sure nothing like it happened again," Murray said.

"I am glad that the website appears to be back online, but I am going to continue monitoring this issue and working to make sure that the Department of Education is doing everything possible to protect every student and make sure they have every opportunity to learn."

Sen. Cantwell, late Friday, voiced approval that the controversy is over -- for now..

"On behalf of Washington students and parents, I am pleased the site is back on line," she said. "I am committed to ensuring that Secretary DeVos and the Trump administration fulfill their obligation to support the learning of all students, including students with disabilities."

Long before Murray was part of the Senate's Democratic leadership, she was a preschool teacher and a member of the Shoreline School Board.

She led the opposition to DeVos' confirmation as ranking Democrat on the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. A Republican mega-donor and advocate for school vouchers, DeVos was confirmed by a 51-50 vote -- with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a tie vote in the Senate.

DeVos hasn't responded to the Murray-Cantwell letter, which asked for "a detailed plan for restoring the information previously available" and particularly information about citizens rights under the disability act.

But DeVos had plenty to say in restoring the site.

"The restored IDEA.ed.gov site has been moved to a new server, and I've instructed department staff to begin working with stakeholders to build a new and improved site," she said in a statement.

On Twitter, DeVos added: "We are now working with stakeholders on updating these #IDEA resources to be even more useful and user friendly."

The Education Secretary's postings had the air of someone who has just received a crash course in disability law. During her lone confirmation hearing, DeVos was in Murray's words "confused about the federal law protecting students with disabilities."

Murray and Cantwell indicated that they will be watching. The "gentle ladies from Washington" have already gone on record asking DeVos that "this website will not be stripped down in any way during your tenure."

The Department of Education invites parents, educators and individuals with any issues with the website or questions about the Individuals With Disabilities Act to call 1-800-USA-LEARN.