1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The proposed move to transfer oversight of special education programs from the U.S. Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services raises significant concerns. Educating students with disabilities is fundamentally about ensuring they receive a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment possible, as mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is not a health or medical issue, but rather an educational one that is inextricably linked with general education. Shifting special education away from the Department of Education would be a regressive step that promotes a narrow medical model of disability. It risks stigmatizing and segregating students with disabilities, undermining the hard-won progress made towards inclusion in mainstream classrooms. The Department of Health and Human Services lacks the expertise and infrastructure to work directly with state education agencies and provide essential technical assistance to parents, as the Department of Education currently does. We urge you to oppose any efforts to remove special education from the Department of Education. Doing so would disrupt the delivery of critical services and support for students with disabilities, jeopardizing their right to an equitable education. Instead, we should be strengthening the Department of Education's ability to uphold the IDEA and ensure all students have access to the resources they need to thrive academically.