TED: Advocacy Action Plan – Protecting Special Education Amidst Federal Policy Threats

Dear TED Members,

As special education faculty, researchers, and future leaders in the field, your voice has never been more critical. The recent Executive Order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and potential proposals to move IDEA oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) threatens the very foundation of special education policy, research, and practice. This decision risks:

• Weakening the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by shifting it away from an education-focused agency.
• Diminishing federal funding for special education teacher preparation, professional development, and evidence-based research.
• Jeopardizing educational equity by decentralizing protections for students with disabilities.

As members of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (TED-CEC), we must take action to ensure that IDEA remains an education law and that special education research and funding are protected. TED is committed to equipping you with the tools and resources to advocate effectively—whether at the federal, state, or local level.

TED Advocacy Action Plan

1. Stay Informed & Use TED’s Advocacy Resources

TED has compiled comprehensive resources to help you navigate the current policy landscape and advocate effectively: 📌 TED Policy & Advocacy Portal – Get up-to-date information, legislative alerts, and advocacy materials. Access Here 📌 Advocacy Briefs – Practical guidance on engaging with policymakers and integrating advocacy into your work. 📌 Washington Updates – Stay informed about congressional actions that impact special education.

2. Speak Out: Engage Policymakers

As faculty, researchers, and doctoral students, your expertise carries weight with decision-makers. Here’s how you can use your position to advocate for special education: ✉️ Email or Call Your Members of Congress – Express your opposition to eliminating the Department of Education and transferring IDEA oversight to HHS. Find Your Legislators Use the scripts provided to contact your legislators via email or phone 📅 Request Meetings – Schedule virtual or in-person meetings with policymakers to share how these changes could harm teacher preparation programs, research funding, and students with disabilities. 📝 Submit Op-Eds & Public Statements – Publish articles or letters in local and national media to raise awareness about the impact of these policy changes.

3. Mobilize Future & Current Educators

🏫 Engage Your University & Students – Share TED’s advocacy resources with your students and colleagues to encourage them to become active in the policy process. 📢 Encourage Doctoral Student Involvement – If you mentor Ph.D. students, discuss how policy changes affect their future careers and how they can advocate effectively. 🎤 Present at Conferences & Department Meetings – Integrate policy discussions into your academic spaces to build a stronger advocacy network within special education.

4. Protect Research & Funding for Special Education

One of the most alarming consequences of eliminating the Department of Education is the potential loss of federal research funding that drives innovation in special education. As researchers, we must advocate for: 🔬 Continued investment in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to support evidence-based practices. 📊 Funding for personnel preparation programs that address the ongoing special education teacher shortage. 📑 Federal support for special education research centers that develop interventions and inform policy.

5. Join TED’s Advocacy Network & Take Action Today

TED is mobilizing special education leaders nationwide to protect IDEA, special education funding, and research investments. Here’s how you can get involved: ✔ Attend TED’s Advocacy in Action Sessions – Gain skills in effective advocacy strategies. ✔ Join the Policy Committee – Work directly with TED’s Policy Committee to amplify our advocacy efforts. ✔ Use TED’s Advocacy Toolkit – Access talking points, policy briefs, and templates for contacting legislators.

Together, We Will Defend the Future of Special Education

TED has always been at the forefront of advocacy for special education policy, research, and teacher preparation. Now, more than ever, we must stand together to ensure that federal policies support—not dismantle—the progress we have made.

📣 We need your expertise, your voice, and your action. Join us in protecting the future of special education by advocating for IDEA, research funding, and federal oversight.

For more information, visit TED’s Advocacy Portal or contact our Policy Advisor Dr. Kait Brennan for additional information.

Together, we will ensure a strong future for special education. Together, we can make a difference.