Sen. Van Hollen, Reps. Huffman and Thompson Reintroduce IDEA Full Funding Act
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and G.T. Thompson (R-PA) reintroduced the IDEA Full Funding Act on Thursday. This bicameral, bipartisan effort seeks to fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants to state programs at 40% of the average per pupil expenditure for special education, as promised in the IDEA statute. Currently, funding rests at approximately 10%.
The IDEA Full Funding Act would mandate consistent increases in IDEA funding, putting IDEA on a glidepath to "full funding" and ensuring Congress fulfills its commitment to America's children and schools. The bill is supported by over 30 Senators and more than 60 members of the House.
CEC works closely with the lead sponsors of this bill and endorses the legislation along with scores of education and civil rights organizations from across the nation.