FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2026
Washington, D.C. — The undersigned disability, civil rights, and education organizations strongly oppose the Administration's efforts to transfer the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the Department of Justice (DOJ) through Interagency Agreements (IAAs). These agreements undermine the core foundation of federal disability, education, and civil rights policy and implementation.
Students with disabilities deserve educational systems that are designed around their needs, rights, and opportunities, not administrative restructuring that risks disrupting critical services and protections. They deserve equitable access to education, robust protections under the law, and an intact Department of Education that is committed to their success and steadfast in defending their rights.
Far too many students experience unacceptable barriers to receiving services and supports - but these transfers do not reflect meaningful solutions to this problem. While ED states that stakeholder input was considered, these IAAs do not reflect the concerns widely expressed by parents, educators, disability organizations, and civil rights advocates. Congress specifically entrusted ED with administering the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enforcing Section 504 protections in public schools and colleges, overseeing vocational rehabilitation programs, and safeguarding the civil rights of students with disabilities. Congress has repeatedly reauthorized and strengthened these laws within the Department since its establishment in 1979, creating an integrated framework for students with disabilities that connects educational opportunity, civil rights enforcement, transition services, workforce preparation, and employment outcomes.
Transferring OSERS to HHS moves critical education, transition, and employment programs into an agency primarily focused on health care, weakening the coordination between schools, vocational rehabilitation, and postsecondary opportunities. Furthermore, separating OSERS from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), which funds and oversees K-12 education programs, segregates disability-related education programs from the broader education system and weakens the coordination necessary to ensure students with disabilities are fully included in general education. Special education is not a separate enterprise. IDEA is built on the principle that students with disabilities should be educated alongside their peers and have access to the same academic standards, accountability systems, and opportunities for success. State education leaders and educators⸺including both general and special educators⸺also rely on ED’s expertise, guidance, monitoring, and technical assistance; responsibilities that Congress unilaterally funds and directs the Department to provide.
Likewise, transferring OCR to DOJ separates education-focused civil rights enforcement from the agency responsible for education policy and oversight, exposing students and their families to longer wait times when discrimination is occurring in schools and risking the loss of specialized expertise that students and families rely upon to resolve their complaints and drive necessary improvements in school policy and practice to prevent future discrimination. It will also discourage some families from seeking assistance or filing complaints due to concerns about engaging with a law enforcement agency rather than experts in education and disability law.
Congress intentionally built an education and vocational rehabilitation continuum that supports individuals with disabilities from early intervention through school, postsecondary education, and employment. Moving OSERS to HHS and OCR to DOJ dismantles this coordinated and cohesive approach and threatens decades of progress advancing educational, employment, and civil rights outcomes for students with disabilities.
The undersigned organizations urge Congress to reject these transfers and preserve the Department of Education's longstanding and Congressionally mandated roles to lead, direct, oversee, administer, and enforce the laws and programs that support opportunity, inclusion, and success for all students with disabilities.
**Signed by, as of June 18, 2026:**
National Organizations
AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education)
Access Ready Inc.
Advocacy Without Borders
AESA, Association of Education Service Agencies
AFT
All4Ed
Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools
American Association on Health and Disability
American Civil Liberties Union
American Council of the Blind
American Federation of School Administrators
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Foundation for the Blind
American Music Therapy Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Psychological Association
APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy
Asian Americans Advancing Justice- AAJC
Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)
Autism Society of America
Autism Speaks
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Autistic Youth International
Black Down Syndrome Association
CAST
Center for Black Educator Development
Changing Perspectives
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Clearinghouse on Women's Issues
Coalition on Human Needs
Common Coalition
CommunicationFIRST
Complex and Chronic Conditions: The Division for Physical, Health and Multiple Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children
Council for Exceptional Children
Council for Learning Disabilities
Council of Administrators of Special Education
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
Deaf Equality
Disability Belongs
Disability Law United
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Diverse Charter Schools Coalition
Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL) of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division for Research of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division of Communication, Language, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing of the Council of Exceptional Children
Division of Evaluation and Assessment for Learning of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division of International Special Education Services of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division of Leaders and Legacy of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division of Visual And Performing Arts Education of the Council For Exceptional Children
Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children
Division on Career Development and Transition of the Council for Exceptional Children
Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action
Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County
Easterseals, Inc.
ED-OCR Alumni Collective
EDGE Partners
EdTrust
Education Deans for Justice and Equity
Education Law Center
Educators for Excellence
Epilepsy Foundation of America
Equal Justice Society
Equal Rights Advocates
Family Run Executive Director Leadership Association, Inc.
Feminist Majority Foundation
FullScale
Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE)
Human Rights Campaign
Hussman Institute for Autism
IDRA
Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration
InnovateEDU
Innovations in Special Education Technology (ISET)-Council for Exceptional Children
Japanese American Citizens League
JCC
Kappa Delta Pi (KDP)
Lakeshore Foundation
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Legendary Education Consortium, Inc.
Little Lobbyists
Muscular Dystrophy Association
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Statewide Independent Living Councils
National Association of the Deaf
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Center for Youth Law
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council on Severe Autism
National Disability Action
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Down Syndrome Society
National Education Association
National Parents Union
National Women’s Law Center Action Fund
Native American Disability Law Center
Network of OT Practitioners with Disabilities & Supporters (NOTPD)
OT Leaders & Legacies Society
Parents for Public Schools
Perkins School for the Blind
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA
Prevent Blindness
Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK)
Public School Strong
PWSA | USA
School Social Work Association of America
Service Employees International Union
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
Stimpunks Foundation
Stop Sexual Assault in Schools
Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children
The Advocacy Institute
The Arc of the United States
The Center for Learner Equity
The Collaborative IEP
The Education Policy & Practice Group, LLC
The Federal School Discipline and Climate Coalition (FedSDC)
The Harkin Institute
The National Association for Down Syndrome
The National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion
The Sikh Coalition
Touch the Future Inc
TSC Alliance
Urban Collaborative
We are CASA
State and Local Organizations
Alabama
The Arc of Alabama
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
Down Syndrome Alabama
Alaska
Stone Soup Group
Alaska Council for Exceptional Children
Arizona
Autism Society of Southern Arizona
Bridge the Gap Advocacy
Disability Rights Arizona
The Arc of Arizona, Inc.
Save Our Schools Arizona
Arizona Council for Exceptional Children
Arkansas
Disability Rights Arkansas
California
The San Diego Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Center of Vision Enhancement
Marin Center for Independent Living
Service Center for Independent Life (SCIL)
Down Syndrome Association of Orange County
Club 21 Learning and Resource Center
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
California Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Disability Rights California
Family Voices of CA
Autism Society Orange County
San Francisco Education Alliance
Infant Development Association of California
Autism Society Ventura County
Colorado
The Arc of Aurora
The Arc of Adams County
The Arc of Southwest Colorado
The Arc - Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties
The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties
The Arc of the Central Mountains
NoCo SEPTA
Disability Justice
PEAK Parent Center
The Arc of Colorado
Kids 1st Advocacy, LLC
Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association
Northern Colorado Special Education Parent Teacher Association (NoCo SEPTA)
Connecticut
Disability Rights Connecticut
Center for Children's Advocacy
Out Accountability Project
District of Columbia
DC Autism Society
Delaware
Disability Rights Delaware
Delaware Statewide Independent Living Council
Florida
The Arc of The Glades, Inc
Down Syndrome Foundation of Tallahassee
Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida
Families for Strong Public Schools
Disability Rights Florida
Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization
Florida Association of School Psychologists
Georgia
Georgia Coalition for Equity on Education (GCEE)
Georgia Council for Exceptional Children
Georgia Association of School Psychologists (GASP)
Georgia-CASE
Parent to Parent of Georgia
Parent Education for Exceptional Children
Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta
Hawaii
Hawaii Disability Rights Center
Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii
Idaho
Autism Society of Idaho
Idaho Council for Exceptional Children
Illinois
Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living
Kids First Chicago
Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education
The Arc of Illinois
Illinois Families for Public Schools
Legal Council for Health Justice
Indiana
Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana
American Council of the Blind of Indiana, Inc.
The Arc of Indiana
Indiana Coalition for Public Education
Iowa
The Arc of Southeast Iowa
The Arc of East Central Iowa
The Village Community
Central Iowa Center for Independent Living
Iowa School Psychologists Association
Disability Rights Iowa
The Arc of Iowa
Iowa Council for Exceptional Children
Iowa Council of the United Blind
Brain Injury Association of Iowa
Iowa School Psychologists Association
Disability Rights Iowa
ASK Resource Center, Inc.
Kansas
The Mission Project
Southeast KS Independent Living Resource Center
SILCK-State wide Independent Living Council of Kansas
Kansas Council for Exceptional Children
Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas - SACK
Big Tent Coalition of Kansas
Disability Rights Center of Kansas
El Centro, Inc.
Autism Society of the Heartland
Kentucky
Center for Accessible Living
Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children
Meier & Barlow Law Firm
Kentucky Protection and Advocacy
Louisiana
Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network
Autism Society of Greater New Orleans
Autism Society-Louisiana State Chapter
Autism Society-Greater Baton Rouge
Disability Rights Louisiana
Down Syndrome Association of Greater New Orleans
Maine
Maine Parent Federation
Disability Rights Maine
Maine Council for Exceptional Children
Maryland
Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Inc.
Arts Every Day
The Arc Montgomery County
Speech Garden, LLC
F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, MD
The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region
Charting the Course
The Arc Maryland
Maryland Council for Exceptional Children
Maryland Coalition of Families
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Office for Deaf and Disability Ministries
Maryland Alliance for Racial Equity in Education
Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Community WELL
Maryland School Psychologists' Association
Autism Society of Maryland
Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities
Massachusetts
Northeast Arc
University of Massachusetts Center for Educational Assessment
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
The Arc of Massachusetts
The Arc of South Shore First EI
Disability Policy Consortium
Disability Law Center
Incompass Human Services, Inc.
Michigan
The Arc of Macomb County, Inc.
The Arc Community Advocates
Down to Defend
The Ability Collective of Barry County
Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults
Disability Rights Michigan
The Arc Michigan
Michigan Council for Exceptional Children
Autism Alliance of Michigan
Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education
MiPAAC
It Can’t Be Zero
Michigan Parent, Advocate & Attorney Coalition
Michigan’s Children
Detroit Parent Network/Mothering Justice
Autism Alliance of Michigan
Respect ABILITY Law Center
Our Dyslexic Children Michigan
Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion & Restraint (EndSaR MI)
Minnesota
LeadMN
PACER Center
Minnesota Administrators for Special Education
Minnesota School Psychologists Association
The Arc Minnesota
Mississippi
Mississippi Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children's Division of Emotional and Behavioral Health
Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children
Mississippi Council of Administrators of Special Education
Missouri
The Farmer’s House
St. Louis Arc
The Farmer's House
Missouri Council for Exceptional Children
Nebraska
Down Syndrome Association for Families
Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands
Disability Rights Nebraska
PTI Nebraska
New Hampshire
Strategies for Disability Equity
The NH Association of Special Education Administrators
AFT-NH
Engage New Hampshire
Disability Rights Center - NH
ABLE NH
603 Equality
New Jersey
Association for Special Children and Families
Autism Society Southwest New Jersey
DSASNJ - Down Syndrome Association of Southern New Jersey
New Jersey Association of Special Education Partner Schools
Family Voices NJ
Disability Rights New Jersey
Richard West Assistive Technology Center
Mercer County Association of the Blind
New Jersey Council for Exceptional Children
New Mexico
The Down Syndrome Office and Resource Center
The Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network
Autism Society New Mexico
New York
Arc GLOW
Long Island Advocacy Center
The Arc Mid-Hudson
AHRC New York City
NYSARC Inc., Warren, Washington & Albany Counties Chapter
Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled
The Collaborative for Inclusive Education
New York City Coalition for Children with Special Needs
JCC of Staten Island
Kennedy Children's Center
INCLUDEnyc
Jewish Community Center Inc.
United for Brownsville
St. Nicks Alliance
Parent Network of WNY
Autistic Adults NYC
Parents for Inclusive Education (PIE)
The Shield Institute
Liftoff WNY
LearningSpring School
Volunteers of America-Greater New York
NYC Arts in Education Roundtable
Citizens' Committee for Children of New York
Sinergia
Advocates for Children of New York
The Arc New York
New York Council for Exceptional Children
The Inter Agency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Inc.
The Children's Agenda
The Center for Family Support, Inc.
Alliance for Quality Education
Action for Reform in Special Education (ARISE)
Steppingstone Day School
NYADD (New York alliance for developmental disabilities
New York Center for Child Development
AHRC Nassau
Cooke School and Institute
North Carolina
Disability Rights North Carolina
Autism Society of North Carolina
Down Syndrome Network of Onslow and Carteret Counties (DSNOCC)
North Dakota
The Arc of Bismarck
The Arc of North Dakota
North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project
North Dakota Association of School Psychologists
Family Voices of North Dakota
Designer Genes of North Dakota
Ohio
Autism Society of Greater Cleveland
Prairie Educational Solutions LLC
Autism Society Central Ohio
Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati
Linking Employment, Abilities & Potential
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc.
The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio
Parents United for Public Schools
Honesty for Ohio Education
The Arc of Ohio
Autism Society of Ohio
Ohio Equal Rights
Ohio Olmstead Task Force
Disability Rights Ohio
Ohio Council for Exceptional Children
Ohio Association of Pupil Services Administrators
Eastside Pride
Oklahoma
Ability Resources
Dynamic Independence
Oklahoma Directors of Special Services
Oregon
Lane Independent Living Alliance
Access Technologies, Inc.
Oregon Statewide Independent Living Council
Autism Society of Oregon
Disability Rights Oregon
Pennsylvania
The Arc of Philadelphia
Autism Society Greater Harrisburg Area
The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties
HUNE, Inc.
PARENT POWER
Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh
Disability Rights Pennsylvania
Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania
Institute on Disabilities at Temple University
Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center
Autism Society Greater Philadelphia
Golden Triangle Council of the Blind
Education Law Center-PA
Vision for Equality
Puerto Rico
APNI, Inc.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island School Psychologists Association
South Carolina
The Arc of Horry
The Arc of South Carolina
Disability Rights South Carolina
South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
Tennessee
The Arc Mid South
DSDC
The Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee
Tennessee Council for Exceptional Children
The Arc Tennessee
Texas
Down Syndrome Association of Houston
Alliance of and for Visually Impaired Texans (AVIT)
All Blind Children of Texas
Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
Manifest Academy
Autism Society of Texas
Texas Parent to Parent
Texas Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (TAER)
Braille Revival League Of Texas
Texas Association of School Psychologists
Utah
Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice
Utah Council for Exceptional Children
Disability Law Center of Utah
Utah Association of School Psychologists (UASP)
Utah CEC
Vermont
Windham County VT Branch of the NAACP
Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators (VCSEA)
Voices for Vermont's Children
Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council
Virginia
The Arc of Virginia
The Arc of Southside
The Arc of the Piedmont
The Arc of Northern Virginia
Virginia Down Syndrome Association
Advocating 4 Kids Inc
Washington
The Arc of Whatcom County
The Arc of Washington State
PAVE
The Arc of Snohomish County
West Virginia
Fayette County Friends of Autism
Down Syndrome Network of West Virginia
WV School Psychologists Association
Wisconsin
Learn In My Shoes
The Arc Wisconsin
The Arc of Racine County
Autism Society of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Autism Empowerment
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin
Wisconsin School Psychologists Association
The Arc-Dane County
Wisconsin Autism Empowerment
Wisconsin Council for Exceptional Children
Deaf Intervention Services, LLC
Wyoming Council for Exceptional Children