IDEAL Act

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Mr. James, would take unspent money from the Department of Education's 2026 budget and move it directly to states to fund special education services.
• The money would specifically support the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which helps nearly 8 million public school students—about 15% of all students—get the specialized help they need in school.
• The bill is timed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original special education law, which was created to ensure every child has a right to a free and appropriate public education regardless of their disability.
• The transferred funds would be spread out over four years (2026 to 2029) and must be used as extra funding for special education, meaning states cannot use this money to replace the money they already planned to spend.
• The Secretary of Education would be required to report exactly how much money was moved and how much each state received within 90 days of the bill becoming law.