Press Release

Policy and Advocacy Icon

The Center for Learner Equity continues to condemn dismantling the Department of Education

Washington, D.C. – The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) continues to vehemently oppose moving the functions of the Department of Education (ED) to other federal departments. This plan jeopardizes the rights and education of 8 million children with disabilities.  While the six interagency agreements announced on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 do not include a plan to move the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services or the Office for Civil Rights, these functions remain under threat. The actions taken are not only harmful, they are unlawful. This includes moving all functions of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), which administers K-12 grant programs including the Charter School Program, to the Department of Labor.   “Students with disabilities are students first, but today’s actions separate programs for students with disabilities from all K-12 education programs,” said Jennifer Coco, Interim Executive Director of CLE. “This should not be a partisan issue. Dismantling the Department of Education will have negative consequences for children across the nation. We urge the Administration to reverse this decision, and we urge Congress to immediately conduct oversight hearings in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee. And we will […]

Center for Learner Equity Announces Leadership Induction to PIE Cohort 10

CLE Interim Director Jennifer Coco will join inspiring legacy of the PIE Leadership Institute Today, the Center for Learner Equity announced that its Interim Executive Director, Jennifer Coco, will join the PIE Leadership Institute’s Cohort 10. For more than a decade, the Leadership Institute has served as a cohort-based, year-long leadership opportunity focused on leading change in evolving political educational environments.  Coco has demonstrated distinguished expertise in education advocacy and policy on behalf of students with disabilities. With a background as an attorney and advocate for students, Coco has spent nearly two decades working to ensure that schools are welcoming places for all learners, providing instruction and services that meet the needs of students. In 2025, Coco helped cement CLE’s organizational position at the forefront of protecting students with disabilities. Through policy recommendations and federal advocacy championing the rights of students with disabilities, Coco helped lead the strategy that uplifts a shared vision around the future of education. “I am honored and humbled to join a cohort of leaders whom I have long admired,” said Jennifer Coco, Interim Executive Director of The Center for Learner Equity. “This past year has reinforced my relentless commitment to accountability and living up to […]

nice leadership icon

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.