Last week, the Office for Special Education Programs (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education conducted a public briefing led by OSERS Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Rogers to discuss an Interagency Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Without providing a timeline or specifics of the pending transfer of functions between ED and HHS, the briefing included repeated statements by Rogers that “HHS is not taking over the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),” and that all “dedicated” OSERS staff would continue working on IDEA programs. Answering pre-submitted questions, she continued to note that OSERS will conduct “vigorous enforcement” of IDEA, and that no funding or other interruptions should be expected. In response, Denise Marshall, COPAA CEO, told NPR that the briefing lacked detail, “offered no plan” for the pending transfer, “adds layers of bureaucracy,” and is a “sham” given the known actions taken by ED to reduce OSERS staff, cut valuable special education research and programs, and reduce the number of annual on-site visits to monitor State compliance with IDEA. Because the briefing was not recorded, OSERS released a video that follows a similar format.
AZ: Arizona students with disabilities fuel rapid growth in billion-dollar ESA voucher program
12news.com A 12News investigation found the number of special education students receiving Empowerment Scholarship Accounts has tripled in four years, with several families receiving more than $30,000 annually. Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program was...

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