The Department of Education laid off roughly 1,400 employees in March and a federal judge paused the move. The Supreme Court now says it was permissible.

Desperation crept into Sylvia’s voice as she rattled off all the ways her life would become more difficult if a free learning program that her son attends during the summer shuts its doors.

Former Department of Education employees and education advocates told ABC News that they worry this ruling could harm the most vulnerable children in the country.

"It's going to reduce the number of teachers, it's going to reduce the ability for us to make evidence-based changes.”

Data from the Education Department shows the pace at which it resolves civil rights complaints has slowed as the Trump administration dismantles the agency.

Former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos joins ‘America Reports’ to discuss the Supreme Court’s decision paving the way for the Trump administration to carry out mass layoffs at the Department of Education.