CEC Endorses Bill to Provide Emergency IDEA Funding During COVID
Last Friday, Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Supporting Children with Disabilities During COVID–19 Act, which includes one-time emergency funding to support Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill acknowledges the disproportionate impact that in-person school and program closures has on many children with disabilities and the unprecedented budget challenges brought on by the pandemic. Specifically, the bill provides $11 billion for grants to states, $400 million for preschool grants, $500 for programs for infants and toddlers and $300 million for personnel development.
These funding levels largely reflect the funding request that CEC put forward in March, which over 8,000 grassroots advocates supported through the CEC Legislative Action Center.
A similar bill was introduced in the Senate in late June, and the House sponsors decided to introduce a companion bill after hearing from constituents, including participants of the Special Education Legislative Summit.