Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act

Key Points

• This bill would dramatically increase federal funding for early intervention and preschool special education programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It targets two specific programs: Part C, which serves infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth to age 2), and Section 619, which funds preschool programs for children ages 3 to 5.
• The bill sets a five-year ramp-up schedule from 2027 to 2031. By the final year, it would authorize $1.72 billion for infant and toddler services (Part C) and $1.22 billion for preschool programs (Section 619), for a combined total of nearly $3 billion annually.
• Congress found that per-child funding for these programs has dropped sharply over the past three decades. Part C funding fell from $3,902 per child in 1999 to $1,324 per child in 2023 (adjusted for inflation), and Section 619 funding fell from $1,883 per child in 1992 to $849 in 2023.
• The bill only authorizes spending -- it does not actually provide the money. Congress would still need to pass separate appropriations bills to fund these programs at the authorized levels. Authorization is a necessary first step, but the money is not guaranteed.
• The findings emphasize that early intervention services can change a child's developmental path and improve long-term outcomes for children, families, and communities. These services include things like speech therapy, physical therapy, and other supports for young children with disabilities.