Chiefs for Change Statement on the Transfers of OSERS and OCR

On Tuesday, June 16, the U.S. Department of Education announced new interagency agreements with the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice affecting special education, civil rights enforcement, and student privacy. Chiefs for Change issued the following statement in response:

Statement from Chiefs for Change on the Transfers of OSERS and OCR

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chiefs for Change is deeply concerned by the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to shift significant responsibilities for special education, civil rights enforcement, and student privacy to other federal agencies.

Coordination across agencies can be useful when it helps states and districts serve students more effectively. But it cannot become a substitute for clear federal education leadership, nor should it fragment responsibilities Congress assigned to the Department of Education.

As a network of state and district education leaders, we know students, families, educators, and school systems need clarity, consistency, and accountability from the federal government. This is especially true for students with disabilities and students protected by federal civil rights laws.

Chiefs for Change urges the Administration to provide immediate clarity on how these agreements will be implemented, how education expertise will be preserved, and how services, guidance, oversight, and enforcement will continue without disruption. Congress should conduct careful oversight to ensure these changes strengthen, not weaken, support for students and schools.

You may read the U.S. Department of Education news release in its entirety below.

https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/returning-education-states