Another critical role of OSEP is to protect the educational rights of children with disabilities from age three through twenty-one.

Originally created as the Bureau of the Education of the Handicapped in 1967,[2] its purpose is to strengthen and coordinate activities on behalf of students with disabilities.

[3] Its current mission is to improve results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.

[4] OSEP programs are intended to ensure that the rights of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their parents are protected.

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) provides leadership and support to assist states and local districts to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) to children with disabilities.