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Most families want the same thing: children who feel safe, welcome, challenged and supported at school, and teachers who have the tools to help them succeed. Education must be focused on what truly matters: our children, the families who support them and the educators committed to their success. When politics overshadows learning, we compromise the very purpose of education. We deeply understand how the U.S. Department of Education protects and supports children with disabilities. Laurie served as the director of the Office of Special Education Programs in the first Trump administration. Stephanie led that office in the George W. Bush administration. We both agree that the federal department is key to ensuring every child deserves a fair chance to get a quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential. That is why we oppose moving the office that oversees special education to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We are concerned this step, announced last month, is being driven by a broader push to close the Education Department, rather than by clear evidence that it would improve services for children.