Resources

Apr 07
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‘Really scared’: Parents of kids with disabilities confront Education Department chaos

“Any move to separate the education of students with disabilities from the education of all students further pathologizes disability and is treating 15% of all the children in our public school buildings like they’re medical issues — they’re not.” We know that health and education systems speak in entirely different languages including variations in terminology, training, and disciplines. It simply doesn’t translate. Our Interim Executive Director, Jennifer Coco explains what’s at risk when discussing moving IDEA to the Department of Health and Human Services. Read the full piece by Shauneen Miranda in States Newsroom here. 

Mar 31
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Virtual Press Conference – March 20, 2025

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, March 20, 2025, The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) joined the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), the Autism Society, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) for a virtual press conference discussing the unprecedented actions threatening the civil rights of students, particularly those with disabilities. Disability rights leaders discussed the consequences of dismantling the Department of Education and offered actionable next steps for families, educators, advocates, and policymakers. Jennifer Coco, CLE’s Interim Executive Director, spoke alongside: Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO, NCLD Christopher Banks, President & CEO, Autism Society Denise Marshall, CEO, COPAA Chad Rummel, Executive Director, Council for Exceptional Children A recording of the press conference can be found here.

Mar 24
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Feb 13
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CLE’s Executive Director and Co-Founder featured in New York Times article on Trump’s education plans

“If I were to read the tea leaves,” said Lauren Morando Rhim, a co-founder and the executive director of the Center for Learner Equity, “I think that we’re going to see a huge decrease of staffing and simply reducing the function of the department.” Morando Rhim thinks that what Trump and Musk have done to U.S.A.I.D. could be a blueprint for their plans for the Department of Education. Read the article here.

Jan 27
Oct 08
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Key Trends in Special Education in Public Schools (2020-21)

CLE’s Analysis of the Civil Rights Data Collection The Center for Learner Equity is proud to release our sixth secondary analysis of the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC)’s January 2025 release, this time regarding the 2021-2022 school year. We have prepared two reports that offer an in-depth look at the experiences of students with disabilities in public charter schools and traditional public schools. Our analyses of CRDC data continue to reveal persistent disparities in enrollment, disciplinary practices, and access to college preparatory opportunities for students with disabilities. In our “Fast Facts” brief, we examine national trends in enrollment, placement, discipline, and postsecondary access for students with disabilities in both traditional and charter public schools. We also offer a separate brief on the topic of specialized charter schools, where we explore the growth and characteristics of charter schools that specialize in educating students with disabilities. CLE continues to urge elected officials and the U.S. Department of Education to protect and invest in the Civil Rights Data Collection. This data is critical to national transparency around protecting students' civil rights, informing inclusive policies, and ensuring all students with disabilities receive the opportunities and supports they deserve. Key Findings [...]
Oct 02