Last week, a group of bipartisan U.S. Senators and House of Representatives introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act (S.866/H.R.1878). The purpose of this legislation is to bring the share of funding for special education up to 40%, the amount committed when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law was first enacted in 1975. Currently, the federal government is meeting only 14% of these costs.
Introduced last Tuesday, March 26th, this bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It is expected to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee before hopefully moving to the Senate and then the House for a full vote. TARC is very supportive of this legislation.
To track this legislation, click here: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s866.
Once you click on the link, the top of the page will have a green button so you can have emails sent to you. Once you do that you can receive updates and learn of major action on this bill. There is also a blue link to its right, allowing you to insert your zip code to get your legislators’ contact information so you can have your voice heard.
If you are interested in more information about how the IDEA Act addresses access to education and the program’s guidelines, please visit, https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/