Protect IDEA: Keep Special Education in the Department of Education

I am writing as your constituent to urge you to oppose the U.S. Department of Education’s proposal to move special education programs, including those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to the Department of Health and Human Services. Special education is, at its core, an education service—not a medical one. Students with disabilities have a right to a free and appropriate public education, and that right is best protected and implemented by an agency with deep expertise in teaching, learning, and school systems. The Department of Education is uniquely equipped to ensure that students receive individualized instruction, appropriate accommodations, and equitable access to the classroom. Moving IDEA programs to the Department of Health and Human Services risks reframing disability as a purely medical issue rather than recognizing the educational rights and needs of students. This shift could weaken accountability, disrupt coordination with schools, and create unnecessary barriers for families already navigating complex systems. Educators, not healthcare administrators, are best positioned to design and oversee educational supports that help students succeed academically and socially. Additionally, this change could lead to fragmentation of services, confusion among states and school districts, and delays in delivering critical support to students. Families rely on consistent, clearly defined systems to advocate for their children. Any restructuring that undermines that stability puts students at risk. Students with disabilities deserve strong, coordinated support within the education system—not a restructuring that could dilute their rights or access to services. IDEA was designed to ensure educational equity, and its implementation must remain within the Department of Education to uphold that mission. I urge you to take a clear stand against this proposal and to protect the integrity of IDEA by keeping it within the U.S. Department of Education. Our students—and their futures—depend on it. Thank you for your time and your commitment to serving our community.