AACTE Opposes Department of Education Layoffs; Urges Reinstatement of Vital Staff and Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Oct. 15, 2025, Washington, D.C.) — AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) representing more than 500 institutions dedicated to preparing the nation’s educators, strongly rejects the recent layoffs within the U.S. Department of Education that include 466 staff across the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office for Civil Rights, Office of Postsecondary Education, and the Office of Communication and Outreach.

In a letter sent to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, AACTE leadership urged the Department to immediately reinstate these positions, emphasizing that such reductions jeopardize the federal government’s ability to effectively support and oversee critical programs serving students with disabilities and other vulnerable populations.

“These layoffs threaten the Department’s capacity to uphold its statutory responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and to sustain programs essential to equity, access, and educator preparation nationwide,” the letter signed by AACTE Board Chair Anne Tapp Jaksa, Ph.D., and AACTE President and CEO Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D. “Our nation’s students and educators cannot afford diminished oversight, reduced technical assistance, or weakened program support.”

AACTE’s letter calls for the following:

• Immediate restoration of staffing to maintain effective program delivery, monitoring, and accountability.
• Protection of core oversight functions to safeguard civil rights and equitable access.
• Reaffirmed partnership with higher education to address the nation’s teacher shortage, especially in special education.
• Commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement in any reorganization efforts.

“Efficiency should never come at the expense of students’ rights or the integrity of federal education programs,” The AACTE leaders added. “We urge Secretary McMahon to reverse these cuts and work collaboratively to strengthen—not weaken—the Department’s vital role in supporting education for all.”

AACTE stands ready to work with the Department, Congress, and education partners to ensure the nation’s education system remains equitable, effective, and fully supported.

# # #

About AACTE

Established in 1948, AACTE is the leading voice in educator preparation. AACTE’s member institutions and programs prepare the greatest number of professional educators in the United States and its territories, including teachers, counselors, administrators, and college faculty. These professional educators are prepared for careers in PK-12 classrooms, colleges and universities, state and governmental agencies, policy institutes, and non-profit organizations. Learn more at aacte.org.