S1277-119

What This Bill Does

The IDEA Full Funding Act aims to deliver on a 50-year-old promise by providing mandatory federal funding for special education. When Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975, it committed to covering 40% of the cost of educating students with disabilities, but federal funding has never reached that level. This bill creates a 10-year funding ramp-up to finally meet that commitment.

Who Benefits and How

Children with disabilities and their families are the primary beneficiaries. Full federal funding would ensure students ages 3-21 receive the special education services and supports they are entitled to under law, without funding shortfalls compromising quality.

State and local school districts would receive substantial fiscal relief. Currently, states and localities must cover the gap between federal promises and actual funding. By FY2035, this bill would provide roughly $70 billion annually in mandatory federal appropriations, reducing the burden on state and local education budgets.

Teachers and special education staff benefit from more stable, predictable funding for special education programs, potentially improving staffing levels and working conditions.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal taxpayers bear the cost of this substantial new mandatory spending, which grows from $6.4 billion in FY2026 to nearly $70 billion annually by FY2035 and beyond.

The federal budget faces increased mandatory spending obligations. Unlike discretionary appropriations that Congress must renew annually, this creates ongoing spending commitments that are harder to adjust.

Key Provisions

• Converts IDEA Part B funding from discretionary to mandatory appropriations, ensuring funding cannot be cut through annual appropriations battles
• Establishes a 10-year phase-in schedule starting at 4.5% of the statutory formula in FY2026 and reaching 40% by FY2035
• Ties funding to a formula based on the number of children with disabilities (ages 3-21) multiplied by average per-pupil expenditure
• Sets specific dollar amounts for each fiscal year as minimum funding floors (e.g., $6.4B in FY2026, $69.6B in FY2035)
• Makes appropriations available across two fiscal years to ensure funding continuity for school operations