Mission

The Education Task Force monitors federal legislation and regulations that address the educational needs of children and youth with disabilities and their families, including regulatory efforts under federal laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We advocate for high expectations for children with disabilities under these and other laws. 

Co-chairs

• Delancy Allred
  Autism Society of America

• Stephanie Flynt  
  National Disability Rights Network
  202-408-9514 phone

• Laura Kaloi  
  Center for Learner Equity
  Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
  202-210-1494 phone

• Lindsay Kubatzky
  National Center for Learning Disabilities
  301-966-2234 phone

• Robyn Linscott
  The Arc
  202-534-3711 phone

ACTIVITIES

Education Task Force CCD comments to ED re: changes proposed to eliminate key data as required on significant disproportionality on the Annual State Application Under Part B of IDEA The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force is writing to provide comments and recommend that the U.S. Department of Education (Department) rescind its proposal to remove the Significant Disproportionality data collection under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) section 618(d) and 34 CFR 300.646 and 300.647 from Section V of the Annual State Application under Part B of IDEA. (October 21,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Letter re: RFI to Restructure IES The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) is the largest coalition of national organizations advocating together for federal public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. (October 15,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Task Force Letter on the use of Special Needs The undersigned members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force write regarding the use of the phrase “Special Needs” in official U.S. Department of Education (USED) communications (October 9,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD FY 26 Education Appropriations Letter As you finalize the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Services (Labor-H) appropriations bill, the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force urges you to provide robust funding for the federal programs that support more than 9 million infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, their families, and the educators and other service providers who serve them while avoiding cuts to other education programs. (October 2,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Letter on the Importance of State Assessments and Strong Accountability for Students with Disabilities The undersigned members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force write regarding the potential requests from states to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) to waive the statutory requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). (September 29,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Task Force cochairs on CRDC 2025 The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities Education Task Force (CCD) is providing comments regarding the Department of Education’s (ED) proposed information collection for the mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) for school years 2025-26 and 2027-28. (September 6,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Comments on Adding AI to Secretary Priorities 2025 The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities Education Task Force (CCD) is writing to inform the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Proposed Priority: Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Education as issued for public comment. The CCD Education Task Force and the Technology and Telecommunications Task Force leads, advocates for, and monitors federal legislation and regulations that focus on the educational needs of the 9.5 million children and youth with disabilities and their families as well as policies that address access to telecommunications and assistive technology in education, employment and independent living. (August 20,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Letter, update to FY 2026 Appropriations The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force is writing to update the recommendations we made on April 21, 2025 regarding Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations for federal programs that support infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, their families, and the educators and other service providers who serve them. (July 14,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Comments on Secretary Priorities 2025 The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities Education Task Force (CCD) is writing to inform the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Proposed Priorities and Definitions on Evidence-Based Literacy, Education Choice, and Returning Education to the States as issued for public comment. (June 20,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Task Force Urges Congress to Support Children with Disabilities: Reject H.R. 1 Washington, DC- In response to the passage of H.R. 1, the House budget reconciliation bill, the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force calls upon the U.S. Senate to reject the bill due to several provisions that significantly harm infants, toddlers, children, youth, and young adults with disabilities. (June 5,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD ED TF Statement on House Budget Bills Washington, DC- This week, the House Ways & Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee have proposed budget reconciliation bills that include provisions harmful to children with disabilities. Specifically, the House Ways & Means bill includes a $20 billion proposal diverting public funds to private schools via the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) which CCD has opposed. (May 14,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Appropriations FY 26 As you draft the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Services appropriations bill, the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force urges you to provide robust funding for the federal programs that support infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, their families, and the educators and other service providers who serve them while avoiding cuts to other education programs. (April 21,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Letter NO to dismantle move IDEA to HHS The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) is writing to implore that you take no action—through appropriations or authorizing statutes—to weaken or dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (Department). (April 4,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Task Force, Reduction in Force at the U.S. Department of Education Statement The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force Co-Chairs oppose the recent “reduction in force” at the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The March 11 staff reductions affected half of ED’s entire staff—effectively dismantling numerous offices. These harmful actions present significant barriers to ED fulfilling its role in supporting students, educators, and families. (March 14,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Task Force Info Sheet for 119th Congress The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force is the largest coalition of national organizations working together to monitor federal legislation and regulations that address the educational needs of children and youth with disabilities and their families, including regulatory efforts under federal laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (March 13,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force Letter to Chairman Wahlberg/Ranking Member Scott-House Committee on Education and Workforce re: Educational Choice for Children Act, School Choice hearing The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force is writing to oppose the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (ECCA) including its inclusion in the pending budget reconciliation package. The ECCA intends to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow up to $10 billion in tax dollars annually be diverted directly to private and religious schools and away from local school districts. (March 9,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force Letter to House Leadership and Committees opposing the Educational Choice for Children Act in the budget reconciliation package The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force is writing to oppose the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (ECCA) including its inclusion in the pending budget reconciliation package. The ECCA intends to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow up to $10 billion in tax dollars annually be diverted directly to private and religious schools and away from local school districts. (March 6,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Task Force on Education Choice for Children Act no budget reconciliation The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force is writing to oppose the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (ECCA) including its inclusion in the pending budget reconciliation package. The ECCA intends to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow up to $10 billion in tax dollars annually be diverted directly to private and religious schools and away from local school districts. (February 18,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Education Task Force Letter on Secretary of Education The undersigned members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force write in advance of the nomination hearing for Linda McMahon for United States Secretary of Education, to share our views on the importance of the U.S. Department of Education (Department) to students with disabilities. (February 6,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force CCD Comments to EDFacts Data Collection The undersigned members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force are writing to provide comments to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) collection regarding EDFacts data for the 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28 school years. (January 27,  2025) - Download [ PDF ] Education Task Force Annual Report - Education Task Force (January 13,  2025) - Download [ PDF ]