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DEC's Policy & Advocacy News Hub

  • Jun 27
  • 5 min read

Updated: 1 hour ago

Stay informed with the latest DEC policy and advocacy news, federal updates, action alerts, and advocacy resources. Check back regularly for timely information and opportunities to engage in advancing equitable early intervention and early childhood special education.

July 14th, 2026 | Senators Introduce Child Care Fraud Prevention Legislation 

Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Strengthening Transparency and Oversight to Prevent (STOP) Child Care Fraud Act, legislation that would establish additional federal oversight and accountability measures for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. The bill includes provisions related to provider eligibility, payment oversight, state reporting requirements, fraud prevention, and recovery of improperly used federal funds. The legislation expands on a discussion draft released earlier this year and follows House consideration of related child care fraud legislation in June. As the bill moves through the legislative process, stakeholders are expected to monitor its potential impact on child care providers, state agencies, and families' access to child care assistance. Read the bill announcement and legislative text here.

July 9th, 2026 | Education and Workforce Committee Introduces "Less Bureaucracy, Better Education" Legislative Package

Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) announced the introduction of 10 bills to begin codifying the administration's plan to ensure "federal responsibilities are carried out by agencies best positioned to administer them".


The package includes:


July 8th, 2026 | HHS Rescinds Funding Freeze

Following a federal court ruling, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), rescinded a previously announced $10 billion funding freeze affecting the states of California, Illinois, Colorado, New York and Minnesota. In letters sent to the states on July 8, 2026, ACF noted that it is not freezing or otherwise restricting access or draw down any funds under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) programs. Federal oversight of grant funding remains an ongoing priority. Read the full letters here.  

June 29th, 2026 | Department of Education Issues Final Higher Education Accountability Rule 

The U.S. Department of Education issued a final rule establishing a new accountability framework for postsecondary education programs. Beginning in 2027, undergraduate programs receiving federal student aid will be evaluated based on whether graduates typically earn more than individuals with only a high school diploma, while graduate programs will be compared to individuals with a bachelor's degree. Programs that repeatedly fail to meet these earnings benchmarks may lose eligibility for the federal Direct Loan program, and, in some cases, Title IV federal student aid. 

The rule applies broadly across higher education sectors and aligns new accountability requirements with the Department's existing Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment regulations. Because the rule applies to educator preparation programs alongside other postsecondary programs, it may have implications for early childhood educator preparation and workforce pipelines. DEC, in coalition with our partner organizations from across the country, will continue to advocate for equitable funding for higher education programs and fair compensation for professionals in early childhood.  Read the full press release from the U.S. Department of Education here.

June 29th, 2026 | A Message from Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Rogers

Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Rogers has posted a direct-to-camera message related to the agreement moving Special Education and Rehabilitation Services from Education to HHS. In the message, she affirms that the individuals' rights under IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act remain fully protected. She noted that IDEA funding will continue to flow to states and districts, and that OSERS will continue to monitor and enforce these protections while leveraging the partnership to strengthen support for families. Watch the full message here.

June 18th, 2026 | DEC Joins Broad Coalition of Disability, Civil Rights, and Education Organizations Denouncing ED’s Latest Transfers of Core Functions

The undersigned disability, civil rights, and education organizations strongly oppose the Administration’s efforts to transfer the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the Department of Justice (DOJ) through Interagency Agreements (IAAs). These agreements undermine the core foundation of federal disability, education, and civil rights policy and implementation. Read the full statement here.

June 16th, 2026 | New Stakeholder Letter from the Department of Education: OSERS and OCR

On June 16th, 2026, the Department of Education released a new Stakeholder Letter regarding the restructuring of the Department. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will be partnering with the Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) to support the administration of programs for infants, toddlers, children, students, and individuals with disabilities. The Department of Justice (DOJ) will be the partner for the Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR).


Stakeholder Letter and Related Materials


Resources and Action Alert from DEC and CEC

June 11th, 2026 | DEC Submits Comments on Proposed Head Start Performance Standards

On June 11th, DEC submitted comments to the Office of Head Start opposing proposed revisions to the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access - RIN 0970-AD21). DEC emphasized the importance of protecting high-quality, inclusive services for young children with disabilities and their families while ensuring adequate funding and compensation for the Head Start workforce. Read DEC's full comments here.

June 2nd, 2026 | DEC Joins Advocacy for Funding of Caregiver and Family Support Services

DEC joined more than 90 organizations across the United States in advocating for increased funding for the Older Americans Act Title III-E, National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFSCP) and Older Americans Act Title VI-C, Native American Caregiver Support Services in the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. Read the full letter here.

June 1st, 2026 | Uninsured Rate for Young Children Increased Between 2022 and 2024 - Report

A new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families highlights a concerning trend: the uninsured rate for young children increased more sharply than for older children between 2022 and 2024. Read the full report to learn more about the data and policy implications for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.

May 28th, 2026 | RATTLED – Babies, Families and a Year of Growing Strain - Report

ZERO TO THREE's new RATTLED report provides a national snapshot of the experiences of families with infants and toddlers, highlighting the growing economic pressures, emotional stress, and uncertainty many families face. The findings offer valuable data and family perspectives to inform advocacy efforts on behalf of young children and their families. Read the report here.


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