State of Affairs (as of April 2025)
President Trump has issued an executive order directing the closure of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the department has already eliminated nearly half of its employees and canceled contracts necessary to fulfill its legal role.
Proposals to close ED would transfer responsibility for many of its programs to other agencies, such as moving administration of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to the Department of Health & Human Services, or federal student lending to the Department of the Treasury. Other programs would be eliminated entirely.
Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives to tell them about the important role that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) plays in supporting specialized instructional support personnel (SISP) and urge them to preserve the role of IDEA in ensuring student success. We encourage you to personalize the message to let them know directly how this would impact you and your community, their constituents.
How to Contact Your Member of Congress
- Visit congress.gov.
a. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
b. Click on “Help” under the “Help” section on the bottom left side of the page.
- Scroll down and click on “Find Your Member” under the “Getting Started” section.
- Enter your home address when prompted and click the magnifying glass.
- Obtain contact information by clicking on “contact” under their address and phone number.
- This will take you to their congressional website which includes a contact page, office locations, and phone numbers.
- Use one of the scripts below to tell your member how this issue would impact you and your community, their constituents.
HACK: You can always call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 can transfer call to the appropriate Congressional office.
Template Call Script
Hello,
My name is [Name], I am one of your constituents. I live in [City, State], and I am a [profession].
I’m reaching out to speak to you about changes to the Department of Education and the programs it oversees, which have a negative impact on the ability of school-based [PROFESSION] like me to provide supports and services to students with disabilities.
I’m particularly interested in/concerned about proposals that would move oversight of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other programs out of the Department of Education into other federal agencies, and that could negatively impact the ability of all students to receive a free appropriate public education.
Thank you for your time. If needed, I can best be reached at [preferred contact information]
Notes on Calling Members of Congress:
- Your legislator’s staff member (or intern) will likely answer. You should share your name, where you live, your membership with your organization, and what you’d like to say about the topic.
- When possible, customize your message with locally relevant information. Help them understand how this would impact you and the children and families you serve.
- You may not get an answer and instead be routed to voicemail. Leave a message and if you’re able try again in an hour or two, or the next day.
Template Letter/ Email
Dear [Name of Senator or Representative],
As your constituent and a school-based [PROFESSION], I am writing to express my concerns as Congress and the administration consider changes to the Department of Education and the programs it oversees. I urge you to take the steps necessary to protect funding and operations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) – as well as any other funding for health care in schools. In addition, these critical programs should remain under the Department of Education as these programs are vital for ensuring America’s children are able to stay in the classroom with their peers, learning at their highest ability.
ESSA was passed into law in 1965 with the goal of ensuring success and opportunity for all students in all schools. It strengthens students, teachers, principals, and schools to ensure a healthy education system and economy. The programs promulgated under ESSA allow specialized instructional support personnel like me to take the necessary steps to help students meet their assessment goals, keeping them in the classroom and performing to their utmost ability.
IDEA came about in 1975 with the goal of making available free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation. It governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and other services to more than 8 million young Americans with disabilities. IDEA is the mechanism that enables most specialized instructional support personnel like me to provide related services in schools and provide early intervention services. Without the programs funded by IDEA, millions of young Americans would lose out on the supports and other services they need to keep learning and thriving among their peers in an academic setting.
As Congress considers the administration’s request to move IDEA, ESSA, and other programs out of the Department of Education into other federal agencies, I urge you to ensure these vital mechanisms for helping our nation’s schoolchildren are protected. Our students deserve no less.