A letter advocating for a funding increase for the the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR). We write on behalf of the disability, civil and women’s rights, and sexual and domestic violence communities to express our strong support for the proposed budget increase of $31 million. 

The work that OCR does to ensure the safety and unfettered access to educational opportunities of our constituents—including students with disabilities and student survivors of domestic, dating or sexual violence (both K-12 and in higher education)—encompasses nearly ¾ (or over 15,000) of the complaints that OCR responded to in FY 2013-14. Additionally, OCR staff provided a total of 678 technical assistance presentations with respect to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act during that same time period. This work has had a positive impact and resonated in schools and communities as they strive to better support students under often very trying circumstances.