Special education office leader Kelly Rogers resigns from Education Department

Kelly Rogers, who has overseen the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the federal Education Department since May 2026, announced her resignation on Wednesday, September 9, effective September 11, per NPR. She announced the departure less than a day before much of her staff were scheduled to move to the Department of Health and Human Services building, according to NPR. In her resignation email, Rogers wrote per NPR: "I have made the decision to resign from my position as Deputy Assistant Secretary/Acting Assistant Secretary for OSERS to return home to Florida, effective September 11, 2026." She added, per NPR: "While I am stepping away, I remain confident in the team's ability to continue moving forward with strengthened outcomes for individuals with disabilities through the HHS partnership." Education Department Press Secretary Savannah Newhouse confirmed Rogers' departure to NPR and said Rogers is moving home to "take on a great opportunity and be closer to her family." Some Education Department employees said they were shocked by the timing of Rogers' departure, according to NPR. The move of special education staff to HHS is part of the Trump administration's historic actions to try to dismantle the Education Department altogether. Disability rights advocates have widely condemned shifting special education staff to a different agency, according to NPR.