At the start of each two-year legislative session, the MDSC’s Government Affairs Committee carefully selects a set of priority bills and secondary support bills for our statewide legislative platform. We believe that the best way to put these bills on legislators’ agendas is for our members to take action and contact their representatives about the issues they care about.
On October 10th, nearly all staff within the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) were notified that they will be laid off, effective December 9, 2025.
OSEP implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — the federal law guaranteeing every student with a disability the right to a free appropriate public education. OSEP staff distribute federal funding, monitor compliance, and provide crucial guidance to states and school districts.
Similarly, RSA administers programs like Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment, which help people with disabilities pursue meaningful employment and independent living as they transition into adulthood.
On the 50th anniversary of IDEA, we have an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to strong, effective supports for students and adults with disabilities. Reducing the capacity of OSEP and RSA would make it more difficult to uphold these essential protections and deliver the supports that families, schools, and communities depend on.
MDSC is actively working with our national partners, including the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), to address this urgent concern. We have signed on to the national letter of a Broad Coalition of Disability, Civil Rights, and Education Organizations calling for the immediate reversal of the RIF and restoration of OSEP and RSA staff. We will continue to stay up to date on any developments and keep the MDSC community informed as things progress.
As of October 15th, a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order requiring the Administration to pause implementation of all Reduction in Force (RIF) notices issued during the government shutdown, including those at the Department of Education. While this court order provides a temporary hold, it is not a permanent fix — we need our community to advocate in order to ensure these firings are fully reversed.
What You Can Do
- Please take immediate action here to stop these firings and restore the staff who protect the educational rights of children with disabilities. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to ensure the Department of Education maintains full capacity to enforce IDEA and support state and local programs.
- Stay engaged locally. If federal capacity diminishes, your local Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) becomes more crucial than ever. Join, attend meetings, and take part in state-level advocacy to help ensure that, as Massachusetts navigates any upcoming changes, special education remains a top priority in your community.
- Share your story. Visit your Members of Congress or their staff in their local offices and explain why special education is important and why Congress needs to act immediately to reverse the OSEP and other Department of Education staff firings.