FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2026

Broad Coalition of Disability, Civil Rights, and Education Organizations Denounces ED’s Latest Transfers of Core Functions 

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 22, 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 of People with Disabilities

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 

American Rehabilitation Counseling Association 

American Therapeutic Recreation 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 Women’s Alliance

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)

Diversability LLC

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 (DEC)

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

Extra Lucky Moms

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

I Am Able Foundation

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 for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE)

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 Family Association for DeafBlind (NFADB)

National Parents Union 

National PLACE 

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 

Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)

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 Educating All Learners Alliance

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

Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities

Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program

Down Syndrome Alabama

The Arc of Alabama

 

Alaska

Alaska Council for Exceptional Children

Stone Soup Group

 

Arizona

Arizona Association of School Psychologists

Arizona Council for Exceptional Children

Autism Society of Southern Arizona

AZCASE

Bridge the Gap Advocacy

Disability Rights Arizona

Encircle Families (formerly Raising Special Kids)

Save Our Schools Arizona

The Arc of Arizona, Inc.

The Arc of Tucson

 

Arkansas

Disability Rights Arkansas

 

California

Autism Society Los Angeles

Autism Society Orange County

Autism Society Ventura County

California Alliance of Child and Family Services

California Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition

CCASE

Center of Vision Enhancement

Club 21 Learning and Resource Center

Disability Rights California

Down Syndrome Association of Orange County

Down Syndrome Information Alliance

Epilepsy Foundation Los Angeles

Family Voices of CA

FASD Network of Southern California

FASDNow!

Inclusive College Alliance (ICA)

Infant Development Association of California

Inland Valley Down Syndrome Association

Marin Center for Independent Living

Public Advocates

​​San Diego Unified School District

San Francisco Education Alliance

Service Center for Independent Life (SCIL)

SpEducational

Tehama County SELPA

The Arc of California

The San Diego Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Colorado

Association for Community Living in Boulder & Broomfield Counties

Disability Justice

Kids 1st Advocacy, LLC

NoCo SEPTA

Northern Colorado Special Education Parent Teacher Association (NoCo SEPTA)

PEAK Parent Center

Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association

The Arc – Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties

The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties

The Arc of Adams County

The Arc of Aurora

The Arc of Colorado

The Arc of Southwest Colorado

The Arc of the Central Mountains

 

Connecticut

Center for Children’s Advocacy

Connecticut Association of School Psychologists

Disability Rights Connecticut

Out Accountability Project

PEAK Parent Center 

 

District of Columbia

DC Autism Society 

 

Delaware

Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council

Delaware Statewide Independent Living Council

Disability Rights Delaware 

Epilepsy Foundation of Delaware

 

Florida

Disability Rights Florida

Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida 

Down Syndrome Foundation of Tallahassee 

Families for Strong Public Schools

Florida Association of School Psychologists

Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization

The Arc of The Glades, Inc

 

Georgia

Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta

Georgia Association of School Psychologists (GASP)

Georgia Coalition for Equity in Education (GCEE)

Georgia Council for Exceptional Children

Georgia-CASE

Parent Education for Exceptional Children

Parent to Parent of Georgia

 

Hawaii

Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii

Hawaii Association of School Psychologists 

Hawaii Disability Rights Center

 

Idaho

Autism Society of Idaho

Idaho Council for Exceptional Children

 

Illinois

Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education

Illinois Families for Public Schools

Illinois School Psychologists Association (ISPA)

Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living

Kids First Chicago

Legal Council for Health Justice

The Arc of Illinois

 

Indiana

American Council of the Blind of Indiana, Inc.

Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana

Down Syndrome Indiana

Experienced Educators of East Central Indiana

Indiana Coalition for Public Education

The Arc of Indiana

 

Iowa

ASK Resource Center, Inc.

Brain Injury Association of Iowa

Central Iowa Center for Independent Living

Disability Rights Iowa

Epilepsy Foundation Iowa

Iowa Council for Exceptional Children

Iowa Council of the United Blind

Iowa School Psychologists Association

The Arc of East Central Iowa

The Arc of Iowa

The Arc of Southeast Iowa

The Village Community

 

Kansas

Autism Society of the Heartland

Big Tent Coalition of Kansas

Disability Rights Center of Kansas

El Centro, Inc.

Epilepsy Foundation of Missouri and Kansas

Kansas Council for Exceptional Children

Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas – SACK

SILCK-State-wide Independent Living Council of Kansas

Southeast KS Independent Living Resource Center

The Mission Project

 

Kentucky

Center for Accessible Living

Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Kentucky Protection and Advocacy

Meier & Barlow Law Firm 

 

Louisiana

Autism Society-Greater Baton Rouge

Autism Society-Louisiana State Chapter

Autism Society of Greater New Orleans

Disability Rights Louisiana

Down Syndrome Association of Greater New Orleans

Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network

 

Maine

Autism Society of Maine

Disability Rights Maine 

Epilepsy Foundation New England 

Maine Council for Exceptional Children

Maine Parent Federation

 

Maryland

Arts Every Day

Autism Society of Baltimore Chesapeake 

Autism Society of Maryland

Charting the Course

Community WELL

Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, MD

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Isaac’s aNORAble Homes, LLC

Makom

Maryland Alliance for Racial Equity in Education

Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities

Maryland Coalition of Families

Maryland Council for Exceptional Children

Maryland Council for Learning Disabilities

Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition

Maryland School Psychologists’ Association

Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Inc.

Partnership for Extraordinary Minds (xMinds)

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Office for Deaf and Disability Ministries

Speech Garden, LLC

The Arc Maryland

The Arc Montgomery County

The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region

The Luckiest Light, Corp

The Parents’ Place of MD

 

Massachusetts

Disability Law Center

Disability Policy Consortium

Epilepsy Foundation New England 

Incompass Human Services, Inc.

Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress

Northeast Arc

The Arc of Massachusetts

The Arc of South Shore First EI

The Bay State Council of the Blind

University of Massachusetts Center for Educational Assessment

 

Michigan

Autism Alliance of Michigan

Detroit Parent Network/Mothering Justice

Disability Rights Michigan

Down to Defend

Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan

Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults

It Can’t Be Zero

Jackson County Intermediate School District

Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion & Restraint (EndSaR MI)

Michigan Association For Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education

Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals

Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA)

Michigan College Access Network

Michigan Council for Exceptional Children

Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA)

Michigan Parent, Advocate & Attorney Coalition

Michigan’s Children

Midland County Educational Service Agency

MiPAAC

Our Dyslexic Children Michigan

Respect ABILITY Law Center

The Ability Collective of Barry County

The Arc Community Advocates

The Arc Michigan

The Arc of Macomb County, Inc.

 

Minnesota

Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota

Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota

LeadMN

Minnesota Administrators for Special Education 

Minnesota School Psychologists Association

PACER Center

The Arc Minnesota

 

Mississippi

Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities 

Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children 

Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children’s Division of Emotional and Behavioral Health

Mississippi Council of Administrators of Special Education

Mississippi Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition 

 

Missouri

Epilepsy Foundation of Missouri and Kansas

Missouri Council for Exceptional Children

MO-CASE

St. Louis Arc

The Farmer’s House

 

Nebraska

Disability Rights Nebraska

Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands

Down Syndrome Association for Families

PTI Nebraska

The Arc of Nebraska

 

Nevada 

NVOTA: Nevada Occupational Therapy Association

  

New Hampshire

603 Equality

ABLE NH

AFT-NH

Disability Rights Center – NH

Engage New Hampshire

Epilepsy Foundation New England 

Strategies for Disability Equity

The NH Association of Special Education Administrators

 

New Jersey

Association for Special Children and Families

Autism Society Southwest New Jersey

Disability Rights New Jersey

DSASNJ – Down Syndrome Association of Southern New Jersey

Family Voices NJ

Mercer County Association of the Blind

New Jersey Association of Special Education Partner Schools

New Jersey Council for Exceptional Children

Richard West Assistive Technology Center

 

New Mexico

Autism Society New Mexico

The Down Syndrome Office and Resource Center

The Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network

 

New York

Action for Reform in Special Education (ARISE)

Advocates for Children of New York

AHRC Nassau

AHRC New York City

Alliance for Quality Education

Arc GLOW

Autistic Adults NYC

Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled

Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York

Chinese-American Planning Council

Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York

Community Resources Staten Island

Cooke School and Institute

INCLUDEnyc

JCC of Staten Island

Jewish Community Center Inc.

Jewish Community Center of Staten Island Berman Site

Just Kids Early Childhood Learning Center

Kennedy Children’s Center

LearningSpring School

Liftoff WNY

Literacy in Community (LINC)

Long Island Advocacy Center

Mobilization for Justice Inc – New York, NY

New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP)

New York Center for Child Development

New York City Coalition for Children with Special Needs

New York Council for Exceptional Children

NYADD (New York alliance for developmental disabilities

NYC Arts in Education Roundtable

NYS Alliance for Children with Special Needs

NYSARC Inc., Warren, Washington & Albany Counties Chapter

Parent Network of WNY

Parents for Inclusive Education (PIE)

Sinergia

​​Small Wonder Preschool, Inc.

St. Nicks Alliance

Steppingstone Day School

The Arc Mid-Hudson

The Arc New York

The Center for Family Support, Inc.

The Children’s Agenda

The Collaborative for Inclusive Education

The Inter Agency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Inc.

The Shield Institute

United for Brownsville

Volunteers of America-Greater New York

 

North Carolina

Autism Society of North Carolina

Disability Rights North Carolina

Down Syndrome Network of Onslow and Carteret Counties (DSNOCC)

The Arc of North Carolina

 

North Dakota

Designer Genes of North Dakota

Family Voices of North Dakota

North Dakota Association of School Psychologists

North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project 

The Arc of Bismarck

The Arc of Cass County

The Arc of North Dakota

 

Ohio

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc.

Autism Society Central Ohio

Autism Society of Greater Cleveland

Autism Society of Ohio

Disability Rights Ohio

Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati

Eastside Pride

Honesty for Ohio Education

Linking Employment, Abilities & Potential

Ohio Association of Pupil Services Administrators

Ohio Council for Exceptional Children

Ohio Equal Rights

Ohio Olmstead Task Force

Parents United for Public Schools

Prairie Educational Solutions LLC

The Arc of Ohio

The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio

 

Oklahoma

Ability Resources 

Dynamic Independence

Oklahoma Directors of Special Services

 

Oregon

Access Technologies, Inc.

Autism Society of Oregon 

Disability Rights Oregon

Lane Independent Living Alliance

Oregon Statewide Independent Living Council

The Arc Oregon

 

Pennsylvania

Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania

Autism Society Greater Harrisburg Area

Autism Society Greater Philadelphia

Disability Rights Pennsylvania

Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh

Education Law Center-PA

Epilepsy Foundation Eastern Pennsylvania 

Gift of Inclusion 

Golden Triangle Council of the Blind

HUNE, Inc.

Institute on Disabilities at Temple University

PA CEC

Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center

PARENT POWER

Pennsylvania Council of Administrators of Special Education 

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind

The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh 

The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties

The Arc of Pennsylvania

The Arc of Philadelphia

Vision for Equality

 

Puerto Rico

APNI, Inc.

 

Rhode Island

Epilepsy Foundation New England 

Rhode Island School Psychologists Association 

RIPIN

 

South Carolina

Disability Rights South Carolina

Family Connection of South Carolina

South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center

The Arc of Horry

The Arc of South Carolina

 

South Dakota 

Autism Society of the Black Hills 

 

Tennessee

Diverse Learners Cooperative

DSDC

Tennessee Association of School Psychologists

Tennessee Council for Exceptional Children

The Arc Mid South

The Arc Tennessee

The Arc of Cumberland County, Tennessee

The Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee 

 

Texas

All Blind Children of Texas

Alliance of and for Visually Impaired Texans (AVIT)

Autism Society of Texas

Braille Revival League Of Texas

Coalition of Texans with Disabilities

Down Syndrome Association of Houston

Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas

Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas

Manifest Academy

Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT)

TCASE

Texas Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (TAER)

Texas Association of School Psychologists

Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education

Texas Parent to Parent

 

Utah

Disability Law Center of Utah

Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice

Utah Association of School Psychologists (UASP)

Utah CEC

Utah Council for Exceptional Children

Utah Parent Center 

 

Vermont

Epilepsy Foundation New England 

Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators (VCSEA)

Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council

Vermont Family Network

Vermont-NEA 

Vermont Principals’ Association

Voices for Vermont’s Children

Windham County VT Branch of the NAACP

 

Virginia

Advocating 4 Kids Inc

Autism Society of Central Virginia

Autism Society of Northern Virginia

Formed Families Forward

The Arc of Northern Virginia

The Arc of the Piedmont

The Arc of Southside

The Arc of Virginia

Virginia Down Syndrome Association

 

Washington

Disability Rights Washington

PAVE

The Arc of Snohomish County

The Arc of Washington State

The Arc of Whatcom County

Washington State Association of School Psychologists 

 

West Virginia

Down Syndrome Network of West Virginia

Fayette County Friends of Autism

WV School Psychologists Association

 

Wisconsin

Autism Society of Wisconsin

Deaf Intervention Services, LLC

Disability Rights Wisconsin

Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin

Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin

Learn In My Shoes

The Arc of Racine County

The Arc Wisconsin

The Arc-Dane County

Wisconsin Autism Empowerment

Wisconsin Council for Exceptional Children

Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS)

Wisconsin School Psychologists Association

 

Wyoming

Wyoming Council for Exceptional Children