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Support Children with Disabilities: Preserve the Department of Education
On October 11, nearly all personnel within the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) were terminated in a reduction in force (RIF). OSEP is "dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts." These sweeping terminations, which come on the heels of a significant reduction in force at ED this spring, effectively eliminate OSEP's functionality. This move undermines the oversight of IDEA and severely limits the federal government's ability to support states and districts. It also disregards responsible stewardship of federal dollars, jeopardizing the longstanding commitment to a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities. (Updated October 2025).
- Fact Sheet: Federal vs. State Role in Special Education (Council for Exceptional Children)
- Blog: President-Elect Trump Pushes School Choice, Shuttering Department of Education (CEC's Policy Insider)
- Executive Order: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities (The White House)
- Interview: Watch CEC's Executive Director discuss the impacts of the layoffs at ED on special education programs on CNN
Your Voice is Critical
The Council for Exceptional Children works with policymakers on Capitol Hill, in the administration, and throughout the federal government to shape legislation that advances the lives of individuals with disabilities and to promote the policy agenda of CEC.
Our advocacy only works if you, our advocates, join with us in lending your voice. See our current advocacy topics below and engage in advocating with us.
Held in Washington, D.C, the Special Education Legislative Summit (SELS) is an opportunity for educators from across the country to make a difference by advocating for change with Members of Congress.
Current Advocacy Topics
Support Education Funding through Annual Appropriations
An adequate federal investment in education is essential to supporting infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities or gifts and talents, ensuring their success in school and beyond. However, persistent underfunding of IDEA programs threatens essential programs that maintain a strong special educator workforce and ensure successful outcomes for the population they serve. On May 30, the White House proposed further straining IDEA's capacity by eliminating IDEA programs that support the preschool grant program, personnel preparation and development, resources for families, technical assistance centers, and more. Congress has preserved these programs in their spending bills, and they must be funded in a final deal. Sustained Congressional support for these programs is more crucial than ever.
- Fact Sheet: IDEA and Federal Funding (Council for Exceptional Children)
- Fact Sheet: 2024 Appropriations (2024 Special Education Legislative Summit)
Support Critical Education Research
Education research supported by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) in the U.S. Department of Education improves the way educators deliver instruction to all students. CEC members rely on IES research broadly, and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) specifically for innovative techniques to effectively serve children with disabilities. This spring, the Administration canceled scores of research grants and proposed to scale back IES significantly, posing a major setback for educators and students that could lead to a substantial loss of knowledge about best practices for ensuring high expectations and improved outcomes. Congress is now working to finalize funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year, including whether to maintain a strong research arm at IES and NCSER.
- Blog: Administration Cancels Nearly $1B in Education Research Contracts (CEC's Policy Insider)
- Fact Sheet: Impact of Federal Funding for Special Education Research (CEC's Division for Research)