Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Grants
Stored: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Grants
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Special Education Programs |
| Top Organization | Department of Education |
| Creation Legislation | Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-142), reauthorized as IDEA in 1990 (Public Law 101-476) |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | IDEA Grants fund states and schools to ensure kids with disabilities get a free, suitable education, boosting outcomes with tailored plans. |
| Program Start | 1975 |
| Initial Funding | $100 million |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Grants, established in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and reauthorized in 1990 as IDEA, is administered by the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to provide formula and discretionary grants to states, territories, and entities, allocating over $200 billion since inception to serve approximately 7.5 million students with disabilities annually by 2025. Initially funded with $100 million, it has grown to distribute $14.8 billion in FY 2024 across 60 awards for formula grants and numerous discretionary grants, funding services like special education, speech therapy, and assistive technology at schools nationwide.[1] Despite its impact, challenges like funding shortfalls and implementation disparities persist (web ID: 0), but it remains a cornerstone of special education under DOE.
Goals
- Ensure a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.
- Improve educational outcomes and access to special education and related services.
- Reduce disparities by supporting individualized education programs (IEPs) and early intervention services.[2]
Organization
The IDEA Grants are managed by OSEP within the Department of Education, overseen by Assistant Secretary Glenna Wright-Gallo since 2023, with states and local agencies implementing projects under federal oversight. It operates via annual appropriations, guided by IDEA and subsequent reauthorizations like Public Law 108-446 (2004).[3]
Partners
- Council for Exceptional Children
- National Association of State Directors of Special Education
- Autism Speaks
- California Department of Education, Special Education Division
History
Authorized by the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-142) and reauthorized as IDEA in 1990 (Public Law 101-476), with further updates in 1997 and 2004, the program launched with $100 million.[4] It grew from serving 3.7 million students in 1976 to 7.5 million by 2025, addressing disparities with innovations like early intervention under Part C (web ID: 0). By 2025, it has awarded over $200 billion, though GAO notes funding shortfall concerns (web ID: 0).
Funding
Initial funding of $100 million in 1975 supported the program’s launch, with over $200 billion appropriated by 2025 via annual DOE budgets—e.g., $14.8 billion in FY 2024.[5] Ongoing appropriations under IDEA sustain its operations, with no fixed end as it addresses ongoing special education needs.
Implementation
IDEA distributes formula and discretionary grants annually, requiring states to provide FAPE and related services, tracked via OSEP’s State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Reports.[6] It progresses through state and local partnerships—e.g., 7.5 million students yearly—and service expansions, adapting to educational needs with no set end, though funding shortfalls remain a challenge (web ID: 0).
Related
External links
- https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
- https://www.cec.sped.org
- wikipedia:Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Social media
References
- ↑ "IDEA Website". U.S. Department of Education. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/.
- ↑ "History of IDEA". U.S. Department of Education. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html.
- ↑ "About DOE Leadership". U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/leadership.
- ↑ "Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004". U.S. Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/1350.
- ↑ "IDEA Website". U.S. Department of Education. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/.
- ↑ "Monitoring and Enforcement". U.S. Department of Education. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/monitor/index.html.