Protect IDEA. Protect Every Child.

The Crisis — What’s Happening

During the recent federal shutdown, nearly the entire staff of the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) was slated for termination — the same office that enforces the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), protecting more than 7.5 million students with disabilities across the country.

“Too few people are left to carry out a complicated law intended to protect some of the nation’s most vulnerable students’ right to an education.” — Hechinger Report

Without OSEP, there will be no federal oversight left to ensure schools follow the law, deliver services, or respond to parent complaints.

This is not just a staffing issue 💯 👉 it’s the dismantling of accountability.

Why It Matters

For families like ours, this isn’t political — it’s personal.

As a mother of a child with multiple disabilities, Maribel Gardea knows firsthand what happens when schools fail to meet their responsibilities — and how crucial federal oversight can be when districts don’t comply with the law.

Without it, parents will have nowhere to turn when their children are denied services, excluded from classrooms, or silenced when they speak up.

We can’t allow fear and silence to replace accountability and justice.

What MindShiftED Is Doing

That’s why MindShiftED Parent Institute is launching the Protect IDEA Fund — an emergency response to defend families’ rights to education, dignity, and equity.

Your donation helps us:

Train and equip parents to understand and use IDEA protections
Provide direct advocacy support when schools fail to comply
Connect families to legal and community partners for accountability
Pressure lawmakers to restore and fund oversight positions immediately

We’ve supported hundreds of parents across Texas and the U.S. to stand up for their children — and we’re not stopping now.

How You Can Help

Your support will help families keep fighting for their children’s right to learn — even when systems fail.

✅ Donate
✅ Share this campaign: Use #ProtectIDEA and tag your representatives
✅ Contact your elected officials: Tell them to restore OSEP oversight now
✅ Invite others: Send this page to three friends who believe every child deserves protection

Every dollar fuels training, advocacy, and hope for families navigating impossible systems alone.

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Our History

In 2019, a group of San Antonio parents embarked on a six-month fellowship to explore the needs within the education system through a parent-centered lens. Through block walking, self-guided community meetings, and a powerful vision for better school opportunities for families across San Antonio, Texas, a group of leaders was selected to establish an organization that would truly represent the voices and needs of local parents. After several focus groups and community meetings, a foundational guide was developed to help all families become savvy consumers of education.

MindShiftED is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families of the most vulnerable and underserved children residing in San Antonio neighborhoods.

We Are the Change in Education

We advance educational equity by partnering with families of students with disabilities and multilingual learners. We honor and uplift the diverse strengths, cultural knowledge, and lived experiences of our communities.

Through leadership development, accessible tools, and community organizing, we build power with caregivers to confidently advocate for inclusive, high-quality education to shape systems that reflect the brilliance of every child.

Vision
Together, through advocacy and collective power, we transform our schools into communities where every child and family thrives.

Protect IDEA

By Mindshifted Parent Institute

Protect IDEA