HR2598-119

What This Bill Does

The IDEA Full Funding Act rewrites section 611(i) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to create mandatory appropriations for Part B grants other than section 619 preschool grants. It sets a multi-year ramp from fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2035 and later. For fiscal year 2026, it authorizes $16.661928 billion or 11.6 percent of the formula amount, whichever is greater, and directly appropriates $6.425048 billion or 4.5 percent, whichever is greater. The mandatory share rises each year until fiscal year 2035 and every subsequent fiscal year, when the bill authorizes and appropriates $69.64454 billion or 40 percent of the formula amount, whichever is greater. Each appropriation becomes available July 1 and remains available through September 30 of the following year. The formula amount is based on children with disabilities in all states receiving special education and related services during the last completed school year, ages 3 through 5 where states are section 619 eligible and ages 6 through 21, multiplied by average per-pupil expenditure in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill also states that the appropriated amounts must be expended consistent with cut-as-you-go requirements.

Who Benefits and How

Students with disabilities benefit because IDEA Part B funding would move toward the federal 40 percent funding target over the phase-in period. State educational agencies benefit from larger predictable federal special education allocations tied to child counts and per-pupil expenditure. Local school districts benefit if increased federal IDEA funding reduces pressure on local budgets for special education and related services. Parents of children with disabilities benefit if fuller IDEA funding improves service capacity, staffing, and compliance with individualized education programs.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal taxpayers bear mandatory appropriations that rise to at least $69.64454 billion or 40 percent of the formula amount in fiscal year 2035 and later. The Department of Education must calculate annual formula amounts using disability child counts and average per-pupil expenditure. Federal budget writers must fit the new mandatory appropriations within cut-as-you-go requirements. States and school districts must manage larger federal allocations while maintaining IDEA service and compliance duties.

Key Provisions

• Amends IDEA section 611(i) to create mandatory Part B appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2026.
• Provides a phase-in from 11.6 percent authorization and 4.5 percent direct appropriation in fiscal year 2026 to 40 percent by fiscal year 2035.
• Requires funding calculations based on children with disabilities served and average public school per-pupil expenditure.
• Requires IDEA mandatory funding to be expended consistent with cut-as-you-go requirements.