FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: media@edtrust.org

June 16, 2026

Students’ Civil Rights Are Being Treated Like an Afterthought
Statement from EdTrust on the Transfers of OSERS and OCR

WASHINGTON —“The Trump administration’s decision to move both the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice is the latest step in its ongoing effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and weaken the federal protections that tens of millions of students rely on. All students deserve an education system grounded in educational expertise, not one that treats their rights and supports as an afterthought.

“These continued disruptions will create confusion for states and school districts, undermine accountability, and inject uncertainty into services that students and families depend on every day. Without a clear plan, these shifts risk weakening implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and decades of hard-fought civil rights progress.

“As is too often the case, traditionally underserved students — including students with disabilities, Black and Latino students, multilingual learners, students from low-income backgrounds, and students in rural communities — will bear the greatest burden created by this reckless decision, to which the disability and civil rights communities have already been vehemently opposed.

“Education is a civil right, and the federal government has a legal responsibility to protect it. Rather than dismantling the systems designed to advance opportunity, policymakers should strengthen them and ensure every student has the resources and protections they need to succeed.”

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About EdTrust

EdTrust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the American education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to education equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where students will thrive.