Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Dean Phillips (MN-03) joined U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in introducing the IDEA Full Funding Act. The bill is co-led in the House by Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Pete Stauber (MN-08). This legislation would finally ensure Congress fulfills its promise to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Rep. Phillips meets with superintendents regularly to ensure that every child’s needs are being met throughout their experience in their school system. Full funding for IDEA is consistently ranked the top concern among superintendents.

In 1975, Congress passed IDEA to ensure that every child with a disability has access to educational opportunity. Under IDEA, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure for special education. However, that pledge has never been met, and current funding is at less than 13 percent. The IDEA Full Funding Act would require regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending to finally meet our obligation to America’s children and schools.

“Every American student deserves access to a high-quality, public education. The IDEA Full Funding Act is an unfunded mandate designed to provide students with disabilities, and their educators, the resources they need to succeed. It’s time to fulfill a promise long unkept, relieve the burden on local districts, and ensure our public schools are resourced to serve students of all backgrounds and abilities,” said Rep. Phillips. 

This legislation is supported a broad and diverse group of over 60 national organizations, including by AASA – The School Superintendent Association, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Council for Exceptional Children, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Education Association.   

Full text of the bill is available here

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