Teacher Education Division - Council for Exceptional Children (TED-CEC) - October 14 Emergency Meeting Notes
1. DOE is experiencing its 2nd major RIF - across the entire department.
2. About 4 people are left at OSEP. Two of these are political appointees; two are regular staff.
3. These most recent cuts are likely to be permanent, and are not related to the current Federal Government shutdown. They were planned long ago.
4. Federal response time will be significantly delayed, but persons should still send emails and leave voice messages so they present a trail of evidence.
5. It's getting more and more difficult to even get "inside" information.
6. OSEP personnel prep operations will see major delays and possible changes (no details known or provided).
7. Personnel development project staff at IHEs should start evidence logs to show impacts of RIF action. Write all down to possibly share later. Record whether or not you are getting responses from OSEP staff.
8. CEC TED recognizes that IHEs must have support if IDEA is to be implemented.
9. CEC TED has not heard of any new grant impacts yet, but encourages IHEs with grants to think about "Plan B" if funding ends after this academic year (or after the current federal government budget year).
10. CEC TED has developed targeted advocacy materials for members (Melissa is a member).
11. Webinar was well attended as usual (about 165).
12. Around Dec 7 seems to be the date for many at DOE/OSEP to lose their jobs - from this most recent RIF action.
13. Much of these RIF actions will get tied up in the courts.
14. Send an email to your Project Officer to thank them for all their work. Who knows when or if they'll get the email, but do it. Some CEC TED members are letting OSEP staff know about jobs at their institutions.
15. CEC TED predicts parent groups, LEAs, SEAs, local advocacy groups, etc. are going to become more active and influential as resources are possibly shifted to states in Block Grants. Work with and develop your contacts and collaborations accordingly.
16. Project Directors were encouraged to contact their IHE Grants Offices to determine if they had actions planned.
17. CEC TED is working with many, many national and state organizations to compose and submit letters to Congress. NCPEID is on their current letter.
18. Everyone was encouraged to contact their legislators - "Flood Them" was the phrase used.
19. Keep documenting emails and calls to OSEP.