K-12 Dive

A bipartisan group of former federal special education officials has sent a letter to Congress urging increased funding for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The letter, signed by 11 former OSEP directors and assistant secretaries dating back to the Reagan administration, argues that OSEP’s current staffing and resources are insufficient to meet its growing responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These responsibilities now include overseeing state implementation, providing technical assistance, and ensuring accountability and equity for students with disabilities.

The group also supports proposed reforms by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona that would shift the office’s focus from procedural compliance to improving student outcomes. However, they emphasize that such changes cannot be successful without a meaningful investment in OSEP’s capacity. The letter reflects growing concern that without adequate funding and staffing, the federal government will struggle to fulfill its obligations to the nation’s 7 million students with disabilities.