CEC Executive Director Chad Rummel Testifies on Capitol Hill
On Tuesday, CEC's Chad Rummel spoke at a spotlight forum hosted by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to discuss how dismantling the Department of Education (ED) has, and will continue to, negatively impact infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Rummel discussed how recent interagency agreements, including one to move elementary and secondary education from ED to the Department of Labor, have already effectively segregated special education from general education at the agency level, breaking up an agency designed to support the full education system.
He expressed grave concerns about a recent attempt to fire nearly every special education expert at ED and about a rumored agreement to move special education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services. He reflected the field's uncertainty about the future of special education. "Why break this system? Why harm children with disabilities? Why under-resource special educators? Why instill chaos? Why risk stepping back when we need to be moving forward for children with disabilities?" he remarked.
View the press release from Senator Hirono's office.
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