IDEA Full Funding Act reintroduced in Congress

Today, the IDEA Full Funding Act was reintroduced in Congress by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), creating a clear and accountable path for the federal government to meet its funding commitment to students with autism and other disabilities. The bill acknowledges the importance of access to special education services in students’ ability to grow and thrive at school and addresses the longstanding need to close funding gaps for these supports.

Every child, regardless of ability, deserves access to the education and support they need to thrive. When the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed 50 years ago, it established key rights and protections for students with disabilities – ensuring access to the same educational opportunities as their non-disabled peers. Today, approximately 7.5 million students receive services under IDEA, and among these students, 13% are identified as autistic. 

While the need for special education services continues to grow, federal funding has neither kept pace nor met its original commitment. When IDEA was originally enacted, the federal government committed to funding 40% of the average per-pupil expenditure. However, this has never fully been realized with current funding levels sitting below 13%. The chronic underfunding of IDEA has led to funding gaps that states and local school districts are forced to make up or absorb the shortfall. This impacts their ability to provide the necessary services and supports needed to meet the requirements of student’s Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). As a result of IDEA being underfunded, autistic students may lose access to essential services and therapies, experience larger class sizes, limited access to assistive technology, and face poorer educational outcomes. 

This bipartisan legislation would require regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending to ensure the federal government’s funding obligations are met. Autism Speaks is proud to endorse and advocate for the passage of the IDEA Full Funding Act and is grateful to the Members of Congress co-leading the bill, including: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), and Mike Bost (R-IL-12). 

Through federal outreach and grassroots mobilization, Autism Speaks is elevating the voices of autistic students and their families to ensure IDEA’s promise is fully realized. Join our movement.