Senate Appropriators Post Spending Proposals with Large Increases to IDEA
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the text of their twelve spending bills, including the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Services (Labor-H) bill. The bill provides a significant, 11 percent increase for education funding, although it falls short of the budget proposal set forth by President Biden and the House Labor-H bill. Most education programs would receive an increase of some amount, and the Title I formula grants and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grants to states would each receive a 15 percent increase.
Below are details about the programs CEC proactively advocates for, each of which would see an increase in the Senate proposal:
| Program | FY 2022 | CEC request | FY 2023 Budget Proposal | FY 2023 House Bill | Senate bill FY 2023 |
| IDEA Part B grants to states | $13.3 billion | $16.3 billion | $16.3 billion | $16.3 billion | $15.3 billion |
| IDEA Part B preschool grants | $410 million | $503 million | $503 million | $440 million | $445 million |
| IDEA Part C infants and toddlers | $496 million | $932 million | $932 million | $621 million | $591 million |
| IDEA Part D personnel preparation | $95 million | $300 million | $250 million | $250 million | $190 million |
| Javits Gifted and Talented Grants Program | $14.5 million | $32 million | $13.5 million | $16.5 million | $16.5 million |
| National Center for Special Education Research | $60.3 million | $70 million | $58.5 million | $64 million | $72 million |
While the Senate proposal is favorable to the program proactively supported by CEC, this proposal, like the House proposal, was developed without the requisite bipartisan agreement on top-line spending, meaning that it will likely change before final funding levels are determined. For FY Year 2022, this resulted in significantly scaled back increases for education programs. Nevertheless, the inclusion of meaningful increase for programs that support infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents in both the House and Senate bills is significant to garnering the momentum needed to move the needle on funding for these vital programs.
To view the Senate proposal, go here.