The federal landscape of special education and civil rights enforcement is experiencing an unprecedented structural shift. At the Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA), we believe that policy changes are best understood through the lived experiences and expertise of the individuals navigating them on the ground.
In each installment of our Voices from the Field series, we spoke with someone with a unique perspective to understand how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education affects the daily realities of students with learning differences.
Context: In 2026, federal oversight shifted as the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) transitioned to Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) moved to the Department of Justice (DOJ). This ongoing interview series explores the real-world impact, systemic challenges, and community opportunities stemming from these structural moves.
As a recent high school graduate, and the leader of an education non-profit, Fung provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities of students with learning differences.
As a parent and leader of an education nonprofit, Barros offers an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education affects the daily realities of families of students with learning differences.
As a lawyer with 20+ years of K-12 teaching experience in the US and internationally, Williams provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
Dr. Rodriguez provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
Linscott provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
As a researcher and a parent of a neurodivergent child, Khara provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.Â
Bhalai provides an essential perspective about how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education affects the daily realities of students with learning differences.
As a lawyer with 20+ years of K-12 teaching experience in the US and internationally, Williams provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
Bhalai provides an essential perspective about how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education affects the daily realities of students with learning differences.
As a parent and leader of an education nonprofit, Barros offers an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education affects the daily realities of families of students with learning differences.
As a researcher and a parent of a neurodivergent child, Khara provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
As a recent high school graduate, and the leader of an education non-profit, Fung provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities of students with learning differences.
As a parent and leader of an education nonprofit, Barros offers an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education affects the daily realities of families of students with learning differences.
As a lawyer with 20+ years of K-12 teaching experience in the US and internationally, Williams provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
Dr. Rodriguez provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
Linscott provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
As a researcher and a parent of a neurodivergent child, Khara provides an essential perspective on how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Department of Education impacts the daily realities for students with learning differences.
At EALA, we remain steadfast in our commitment to non-partisan resource sharing, community collaboration, and amplifying the bright spots and vital perspectives within our network. Every voice matters as we navigate this new chapter together.
If you are a parent, practitioner, student, or advocate with thoughts, hopes, or questions regarding the OSERS and OCR structural moves, we want to hear from you.