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Adequate federal investment in education is essential to supporting infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities or gifts and talents, ensuring their success in school and beyond. However, persistent underfunding of IDEA programs threatens essential programs that maintain a strong special educator workforce and ensure successful outcomes for the population they serve. Sustained Congressional support for these programs is more crucial than ever. (Updated March 6, 2025)

Fact Sheet: IDEA and Federal Funding (Council for Exceptional Children)
Fact Sheet: 2024 Appropriations (2024 Special Education Legislative Summit)

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Support Children with Disabilities: Preserve the Department of Education

Elected officials in Washington, DC are debating whether to shrink or eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, including whether the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) should be moved to the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department. Moving IDEA programs to HHS would de-emphasize the purpose of IDEA to provide a free and appropriate public education and other critical activities to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, and challenge the federal role to provide evidence-based research, personnel preparation, and technical assistance to advance the field of special education. IDEA must remain within the Department of Education and the Department’s functions must be preserved. These factors are critical to providing a free, appropriate public education for all infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, and supporting essential special education research and personnel development programs. (Updated March 6, 2025)

Fact Sheet: Federal vs. State Role in Special Education (Council for Exceptional Children)
Blog: President-Elect Trump Pushes School Choice, Shuttering Department of Education (CEC's Policy Insider

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Cancellation of Critical Education Research

On February 10, 2025, the Trump Administration abruptly canceled nearly $900 million in education research contracts for the Institute for Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education, terminating 89 projects, including some from the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER). NCSER plays a crucial role in supporting evidence-based practices for special educators, and the cuts could lead to a substantial loss of knowledge about best practices for ensuring high expectations and improved outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (Updated March 6, 2025)

Blog: Administration Cancels Nearly $1B in Education Research Contracts (CEC's Policy Insider)
Fact Sheet: Impact of Federal Funding for Special Education Research (CEC's Division for Research)

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Reject Private School Vouchers

Congress is currently debating the Educational Choice for Children Act, which would use tax dollars for private school vouchers. This poses a threat to students with disabilities: private schools aren’t required to provide special education services or uphold IDEA protections. Unlike public schools, private institutions can deny admission, expel students with disabilities, and fail to offer necessary supports, often leaving families unaware they’ve waived their IDEA rights. (Updated March 6, 2025)

Fact Sheet: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Council for Exceptional Children)
Position Statement: Position on Use of Public Education Dollars to Fund School Vouchers and Other Voucher-Type Programs (Council for Exceptional Children)