On Tuesday, June 7, the Trump administration announced that the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the US Department of Education would be moved to other federal agencies.  OSERS, which administers programs for students with disabilities and provides oversight and guidance to ensure that states follow the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, would be moved to the US Department of Health and Human Services. An office within OSERS, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which safeguards the rights of students with disabilities, would be moved to the US Department of Justice. The move of OSERS further dismantles the US Department of Education, which the Trump administration has vowed to close.

According to National Public Radio, many advocates for students with disabilities believe this move of OSERS will result in a great deal of harm.  The article can be found and listened to at this link.

An anonymous former OSERS staffer quoted in the article said, “My stomach drops for children and parents.” The employee, who is the parent of an adult with disabilities added, “This move would separate out oversight of the implementation of IDEA, and it would decimate civil rights protections that have been in place for more than 50 years.” 

If you are concerned about the dismantling of OSERS and, eventually, the US Department of Education, you can visit the Council for Exceptional Children’s policy website at this link that inlcude information on this move.