Washington, D.C. – The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) strongly opposes the administration’s recent action of gutting the key offices that oversee special education programs. Decimating these offices directly harms the education of more than 8 million students with disabilities across the nation. On Friday, October 10, 2025, the entirety of the Department of Education’s special education and K-12 education infrastructure, from the Office of Special Education Programs to the Charter School Program Office, was rendered non-functioning through massive layoffs. This reduction-in-force, or RIF, makes it nearly impossible for the Department to fulfill its duties on behalf of students with disabilities, their families, and schools.
“The education of students with disabilities is a nonpartisan issue that should be insulated from politics,” said Jennifer Coco, Interim Executive Director of CLE. “Despite Education Secretary Linda McMahon repeatedly committing to uplifting the rights of students with disabilities, the administration chose to gut the offices responsible for ensuring states are upholding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). We urge Secretary McMahon to reverse the layoffs and rise above partisan politics in the interest of supporting the education of students in every community across the nation—1 in 5 of which is a student with a disability. We urge Congress to take bold action that ensures the Department is prepared and resourced to fulfill its essential functions and implement Congress’s directives. And we urge state education leaders to speak up about the supports they need from the Department to meet the needs of their students.”
Without personnel in place supporting states, districts, charter schools, and families, the Department cannot provide essential leadership, oversight, guidance, or distribution of funds—jeopardizing students’ access to a free, appropriate public education and hampering the ability of states and localities to educate all students. The charter sector and students with disabilities exercising school choice are hit especially hard by the elimination of expert support and guidance that helps students and families exercise choice without discrimination and helps schools provide high-quality opportunities to students with disabilities.
For CLE’s response to this administration’s recent efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, see previous press statements here.
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