National IDEA Call-In Day

CEC is joining advocates from across the country on Thursday for a national call-in day in support of people served by IDEA, their parents, professionals, and other concerned stakeholders. We will be phoning Congress with a unified message: keep IDEA in the U.S. Department of Education.

Call your representative anytime Thursday, June 25, between 9 AM and 5 PM ET.

• Identify your Senators and their contact information here.
  • Please note all telephone numbers preceded by 202-22.
• Identify your Representative and their contact information here.

Your message can be delivered to the person who answers the phone or left as a voicemail. Please see the sample script below. Please note it is critical that you identify yourself by name and location so the offices know you are a constituent. Below is a sample script for you:

Hi, my name is _________ and I am a constituent from [city/state]. I am a special educator, and I am calling to oppose the U.S. Department of Education's announcement to move special education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Special education programs are fundamentally education programs, and they deserve to be led by agencies with deep expertise in teaching and learning. HHS has no experience designing or overseeing educational systems that meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. Moving these programs risks undermining the supports, protections, and opportunities that students with disabilities are entitled to. Moving special education would weaken the system and ultimately limit our students' educational opportunities.

We cannot afford to jeopardize the future of children with disabilities by placing their education in the hands of agencies unprepared to support it.

Please let [Member of Congress] know just how important this issue is to your constituents. Thank you for your time and consideration.