Federal Budget Signed, Education Funding Confirmed for Fiscal Year 2024
Approximately halfway through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, which began on October 1, 2023, President Biden has signed a $1.2 trillion dollar federal budget that will fund agencies this year, including the U.S. Department of Education. Overall, the U.S. Department of Education will receive insignificant increases to certain programs but remain relatively flat-funded at the FY 2023 level. The outcome is a result of caps in spending that were authorized through the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act, enacted into law in June, 2023. Nearly all programs within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Javits Gifted and Talented Education grant program, and the National Center for Education Research were funded at current funding levels for FY 2023, with the exception of very nominal increases to IDEA grants to states ($20m increase). Below is specific information about programs CEC advocates for proactively:
| Program | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA Part B grants to states | $13.3 billion | $14.2 billion | $14.2 billion | $20 million |
| IDEA Part B preschool grants | $410 million | $420 million | $420 million | - |
| IDEA Part C infants and toddlers | $496 million | $540 million | $540 million | - |
| IDEA Part D personnel preparation | $95 million | $115 million | $115 million | - |
| Javits Gifted and Talented Grants Program | $14.5 million | $16.5 million | $16.5 million | - |
| National Center for Special Education Research | $60.3 million | $64.3 million | $64.3 million | - |
The budget was approved by Congress on just after midnight Friday, and was signed by President Biden on Saturday, narrowly avoiding a partial government shutdown.