Biden Administration, Congress Released Pared Down Build Back Better Act, Investment in Special Education Personnel Remain
Yesterday, the White House released an updated framework and fact sheet for the Build Back Better Act at an investment level of $1.75 trillion, half the cost of the originally proposed package. The framework is the result of negotiations with key legislators including Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) as well as bicameral leadership.
Late yesterday afternoon, updated legislative text was released in the House of Representatives. While the contents of the bill are still being finalized, the current draft includes a historic $400 billion investment in early learning and care, along with major investments targeted to climate change, healthcare, and financial support for families.
Notably, the bill also includes approximately $800 million dedicated to expanding and diversifying the educator pipeline funding. This includes $161 million for the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Part D Personnel Development program, a critical component of addressing special educator shortages, which CEC and its partners have been pushing for.
Several education-related provisions proposed in reconciliation bills earlier this fall failed to make it into the current draft, most notably the proposal for free community college for all. The current framework and bill text could change over the next week as lawmakers scramble to align the full Democratic caucus behind a final bill.