The Trump administration will send millions more to states to support students with disabilities — in some cases allowing Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds to assist children before they’re even born.
The U.S. Department of Education said this week that it will award an additional $144 million to state and local governments to use for IDEA programs.
“The Trump administration is investing non-expiring funds that have been returned to the agency in recent years into special education services,” an Education Department official told Disability Scoop. The agency did not respond to questions about why funds would have been returned.
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Roughly $123.6 million will go toward IDEA Part B, which serves individuals ages 3 to 21, and $20.5 million will fund Part C, which provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers through age 2. The money will be distributed via formula grants on July 1 and Oct. 1, the Education Department said.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon called the investment “a substantial expansion of resources for students with disabilities and their families.”
Chad Rummel, executive director of the Council for Exceptional Children, said the influx of funds is needed.
“As the number of eligible children under IDEA continues to rise and funding remains stagnant, I am pleased to see that additional funds for IDEA will be distributed by the U.S. Department of Education,” he said. “It is my hope that Congress will build on this momentum and provide increased funding for all parts of IDEA in fiscal year 2027, ensuring all IDEA programs are well supported.”
At the same time, federal officials are touting a new option for states. For the first time, they can elect to use IDEA Part C funds “to conduct child find, public awareness and referral activities” for expectant parents of infants with disabilities thanks to a provision in a federal spending law enacted earlier this year.
The Education Department issued a seven-page guidance document this week detailing how states can exercise this new option.
“For example, if an expectant mother learns through genetic testing that her child will be born with Down Syndrome and will therefore be eligible for Part C early intervention (EI) services in her State upon birth, a State choosing to use this flexibility could work with her to ensure she understands how the IDEA Part C system operates, refer her for services, and, within 45 days of the child’s birth, ensure that an individualized family services plan (IFSP) is established to provide IDEA Part C EI services,” the guidance states.
Taking this approach could help children with disabilities access services as early as possible, the Education Department said.
