HR6932-119

What This Bill Does

The IDEAL Act uses the 50th anniversary of IDEA to redirect unobligated fiscal year 2026 Department of Education money toward State special-education grants. Congress’s findings emphasize that IDEA guarantees a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive setting, replaced widespread exclusion of children with disabilities, created individualized education plans, and now serves nearly 8 million students, about 15 percent of public school students. The operative section permanently rescinds unobligated balances under the Department of Education heading in fiscal year 2026 appropriations. If regular IDEA section 611 funding for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 is equivalent, adjusted for inflation, to fiscal year 2025 levels, the bill appropriates an equal amount to be allocated to States under IDEA section 611 as supplemental, not supplanting, funds. The Education Secretary must report within 90 days to House and Senate Appropriations identifying rescinded amounts and State allocations.

Who Benefits and How

Students with disabilities benefit if unobligated Education Department balances become additional IDEA Part B State formula funding. State educational agencies benefit from supplemental allocations that cannot replace base IDEA funding. Public schools and special-education programs benefit from more resources for individualized education plans, evaluations, services, and least-restrictive-setting obligations. Parents of students with disabilities benefit if schools have more funding to meet IDEA duties.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Education Secretary and Department budget staff must identify unobligated balances, execute rescissions, allocate supplemental IDEA funds to States, and report within 90 days. Other Education Department programs with unobligated fiscal year 2026 balances lose access to those funds. State educational agencies must account for the allocations as supplementing, not supplanting, existing IDEA section 611 funding. Federal taxpayers fund the reappropriation through Treasury amounts not otherwise appropriated.

Key Provisions

• Rescinds unobligated fiscal year 2026 Department of Education appropriations.
• Appropriates an equivalent amount for IDEA section 611 State allocations for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 if base funding remains at inflation-adjusted fiscal year 2025 levels.
• Requires supplemental IDEA funds to supplement, not supplant, existing section 611 allocations.
• Requires the Education Secretary to report rescinded amounts and State allocations to appropriations committees within 90 days.