Welcome to IDEAMoneyWatch Print E-mail

IDEA Money Watch tracks the Federal funds provided to states and local school districts for special education through three Federal grant programs: Part B Section 611 (children ages 3-21), Section 619 (children ages 3-5) and Part C (infants and toddlers). The distribution of these funds to states in FY 2022 and FY 2023 and estimated distributions for FY 2024 (based on President's Budget Request) available here (PDF, 3 pgs).

---> Follow the Federal budget and appropriations process for IDEA for FY 2024

---> Understanding IDEA "full funding"

---> Learn about the IDEA's maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements

LATEST NEWS:

March 28, 2022: The White House releases the President's FY 23 Budget Request which includes a $3.5 billion increase for IDEA grants to states. Details are here.

July 1, 2021: U.S. Dept. of Ed announces release of $3 billion supplemental grants to states included in the American Rescue Plan and a FACT SHEET describing how IDEA funds within ARP can be used by states

April 26, 2021: The Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates releases new resource guide, The American Rescue Plan: Advocating for Students with Disabilities, which provides concrete ways ARP ESSER funds can be targeted to support students with disabilities. Get it here.

April 13, 2021: US ED's Office of Special Education Programs has released estimated state allocations for the IDEA funds provided in the American Rescue Plan Act. Get them here

April 1, 2021: This new report lays out three critical moves state policymakers can make to maintain special education funding and bolster performance. Read it here.

March 11, 2021: 117th Congress> Congress has passed and the President has signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. It includes $122.8 billion for K-12 education and an additional $3 billion for the IDEA. Read all about it here.

February 5, 2021: 117th Congress> Reintroduction of legislation to support students with disabilities, The Supporting Children with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act, to provide emergency supplemental funding for IDEA. Details are here.

January 29, 2021: IDEA funding gaps by state for FY 2020 released! Shortfall to states is a whopping $23.6 billion. Details are here

January 27, 2021: 117th Congress> U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Susie Lee (D-Nev.) announced the reintroduction of the Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers (PACT) Act, legislation to put Congress on a fiscally-responsible path to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis. Read more here

January 8, 2021: The Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $81.9 billion for a Education Stabilization Fund - 4 times the amount provided in the CARES Act passed in March 2020. Get details on the fund, how funds can be spent and how to make sure students with disabilities are included

May 26, 2020: NPR reports on "A Looming Financial Meltdown For America's Schools."

April 22, 2020: 116th Congress> The CARES Act provides $30.75 billion for an Education Stabilization Fund. Find out how these funds can be used to serve students with disabilities

April 6, 2020: FutureEd reports on "What Congressional Covid Funding Means for K-12 Schools," including State-by-State Education Stabilization Fund Amounts. Read it here.

June 25, 2019: National Education Policy Center's new report, Funding Special Education: Charting a Path that Confronts Complexity and Crafts Coherence, addresses areas of incoherence in funding of special education, providing guidelines for federal policymakers to establish a national policy framework. Get it here.


IDEA Money Watch is a project of The Advocacy Institute.