THIS YEAR, while our union and the nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), its promise remains unfulfilled and federal special education funding is in danger of being cut altogether.

Special education programs address our most vulnerable students’ unique needs. Public schools provide special education services to more than 7 million students with disabilities nationwide. But our schools constantly struggle to fund these services because they don’t receive adequate federal support.

IDEA was signed into law in 1975 and reauthorized in 1990 and 2004. Before IDEA, students with disabilities were cast aside and denied opportunity. With the passage of IDEA, Congress committed to fund 40% of the average per-pupil cost for special education. But Congress has never funded more than 17%; current funding is a paltry 13%.

Meanwhile, the Trump Administration is taking steps to decimate special education. After making deep cuts to staff at the Department of Education last spring, the administration recently cut more, particularly staff that carries out services for students with disabilities, oversees $15 billion in special education funding and ensures that states use these funds appropriately. By firing nearly every employee who supports special education, the administration is turning its back on the more than 7 million children with disabilities. (On October 15, a federal judge temporarily halted the cuts.)

What can we do? We must urge our legislators to support the IDEA Full Funding Act (S. 1277/H.R. 2598), co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, who represents California’s District 2. The bill will ensure that Congress funds IDEA at the full 40%.

“All children — no matter their zip code, race, disability or any other factor — should be able to access a full, exceptional education, and this legislation will help school districts provide the necessary resources to make this vision a reality,” said Huffman earlier this year.

“Our bill holds up the federal government’s end of the bargain to fully fund special education services on a permanent basis and set all students up for long-term success.”

Watch CTA Vice President Leslie Littman’s short video on IDEA’s 50th anniversary and the need for full funding at
bit.ly/CTA_IDEA50.

Take Action!

Visit NEA’s action page at bit.ly/IDEA_FullFunding to find out exactly how much IDEA funding is missing from our state or your school district. Then use the message template — replicated below, and which you can personalize — to urge your senators and representatives to support the IDEA Full Funding Act (S. 1277/H.R. 2598).

The bill proposes regular, mandatory increases in IDEA funding to address chronic underfunding that has left many schools struggling to provide adequate special education resources. It aims to fulfill the federal government’s promise to cover 40% of special education costs.

When fully funded, IDEA will significantly enhance the resources available for special education, allowing schools to better support students with disabilities. This includes hiring qualified staff, providing necessary services, and ensuring that all students have access to quality education regardless of their disabilities.