This is an urgent and dire moment: as the Trump administration guts the department overseeing special education, our most vulnerable students are at risk.

"It appears the [Department of Education (US ED)] is using the federal government shutdown as an opportunity to slash services for students with disabilities. On Friday Oct. 10, the U.S. Department of Education laid off over 460 employees, dramatically reducing the workforce of a beleaguered agency that is already struggling to serve students on the heels of massive cuts. US ED is responsible for enforcing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the law creating a free and appropriate education for children with disabilities, and funds special education services to the tune of around $15 billion annually across states" (SOS Arizona).

The seriousness of this moment cannot be overstated: this is the death knell to IDEA that we have been bracing for. The time to take action is NOW—read on for ways to do so.

Take action as individual:

• ‍TELL CONGRESS & EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: RESTORE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES NOW!
  
  • Use this tool from our friends at Popular Democracy and the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools (AROS) to send an email directly to your representatives to demand the immediate restoration of the cuts to the special education office before our most vulnerable students suffer. Submitting this form will also give you the option to receive a phone call to speak to or leave a voice message your representatives. 
• ‍TELL CONGRESS: PROTECT SPECIAL EDUCATION NOW & RESTORE IDEA OVERSIGHT‍
  
  • Use this tool from our friends at Families for Strong Public Schools to send an email directly to Congress to demand the restoration of the cut positions, as well as full IDEA funding and legal protections for students with disabilities: Tell Congress to Restore Special Education Services TODAY‍
    
    • This one-click email tool works regardless of location and takes less than five minutes. NOTE: ALWAYS CUSTOMIZE THE FORM LETTER TEXT WITH YOUR OWN MESSAGE FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT! ‍
• CONTACT LINDA MCMAHON: RESTORE SPECIAL EDUCATION CUTS NOW‍
  
  • Use this tool from our friends at the Network for Public Education to send an email directly to Linda McMahon, urging her to restore OSERS cuts immediately. She PROMISED to protect IDEA and the children it serves.

Take action as an organization:

• ‍LETTER SIGN-ON ACTION OPPORTUNITY: Broad Coalition of Disability, Civil Rights, and Education Organizations Call for Reversal of Layoffs at Department of Education‍
  
  • Disability Rights groups have drafted a letter to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the Reduction in Force at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and other offices. Wisconsin Public Education Network and the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES) have signed on to the statement, and we encourage your organization to do the same.

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