
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 23, 2026:**
National Organizations
AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education)
Access Ready Inc.
ACTFL
Advocacy Without Borders
AESA, Association of Education Service Agencies
AFT
All4Ed
Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools
All Means All
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 Assistive Technology Act Programs
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)
Council of the Great City Schools
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.
Family Voices National
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
Institute for Educational Leadership
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 College Admission Counseling
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 Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices
National Women’s Law Center Action Fund
Native American Disability Law Center
Network of OT Practitioners with Disabilities & Supporters (NOTPD)
New Disabled South
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
TASH
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
UnidosUS
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
The Disability Law Center of Alaska
Arizona
Arizona Association of School Psychologists
Arizona Council for Exceptional Children
Autism Society of Southern Arizona
AZCASE
Bridge the Gap Advocacy
Children’s Action Alliance
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 Inland Empire
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
DGCKids – Supporting Children with Visual Impairments
Gateway Down Syndrome Association
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
Families Together, Inc.
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
Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana
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
Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan
Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion & Restraint (EndSaR MI)
Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity
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
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
DGCKids – Supporting Children with Visual Impairments
Epilepsy Foundation of Missouri and Kansas
Gateway Down Syndrome Association
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
Down Syndrome Network of Northern 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
NH Council on Developmental Disabilities
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
New Mexico Association of School Psychologists
The Down Syndrome Office and Resource Center
The Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network
New York
Action for Reform in Special Education (ARISE)
ADAPT Community Network
Advocacy and Resource Center
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
Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State
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 Greater Hudson Valley
The Arc Jefferson – St. Lawrence
The Arc Mid-Hudson
The Arc New York
The Center for Family Support, Inc.
The Children’s Agenda
The Collaborative for Inclusive Education
The Down Syndrome Parents Group of Western New York
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
Charlotte Center For Legal Advocacy
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
Advocacy and Resource Center
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
Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
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
DeafBlind Community of Texas
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
Community Employment Alliance
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
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