The U.S. Department of Education was created to ensure equal access to education for all Americans and is responsible for the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which ensures that every child with a disability has access to educational opportunity. Amidst ongoing efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and its core functions, it is more important than ever that Congress hears from you about the importance of enforcing IDEA and prioritize the well-being and educational success of children with disabilities, their families, and the educators who serve them.

We also ask that members of Congress support the IDEA Full Funding Act, which would finally ensure Congress fulfills its commitment to fund IDEA. Under IDEA, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure for special education. However, that pledge has never been met, and current funding is at less than 13 percent. The IDEA Full Funding Act would require regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending to finally meet funding levels that are required by law to support America’s children and schools.

PTA strongly supports policies, funding, programs, and other measures that ensure children and youth with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) - as guaranteed by law. We have no time to waste — we need your voice today to make the difference and change history for students with disabilities.