Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) statute, federal funding should represent 40% of the average per-pupil expenditure in public elementary schools and secondary schools in the United States, but 2022 total federal funding for IDEA Part B state grants is about $13.34 billion and represents less than 13% of the national average per-pupil expenditure.

Congress must do more to meet the needs of students with disabilities to ensure they receive the free appropriate public education (FAPE) that they are entitled to under law.

In addition, personnel shortages negatively impact the ability of all students to receive FAPE making it harder for schools to address learning recovery needs and the impact on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing educator shortages have also been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ask Congress to:

• Increase funding to $16.76 billion for IDEA Part B (state grant funds, which includes an increase to $503 million for IDEA’s Part B Section 619 preschool grants) for FY 2023.
• Increase IDEA Part C (infants and toddlers) funding to $932 million for FY 2023.
• Increase IDEA Part D section 662 (personnel preparation) funding to $250 million for FY 2023.
• Provide $1 billion for the proposed School-Based Health Professionals program to support efforts to address shortages of school-based health professionals and ensure that SLPs and audiologists are eligible for the program.

Download the Issue Brief [PDF] to learn more. 

Please complete the form to email your senators and representative and urge them to provide funding for FY 2023 that invests in IDEA and school-based personnel. 

Thank you for being an ASHA Advocate!