Students with Disabilities 

The Department of Education ensures federal protections like the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), which mandates that students with disabilities, including ADHD, autism, and other learning disorders, have access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). These laws also require that students with disabilities learn alongside one another and are taught by general education teachers, special education teachers, and teachers certified in other content areas and that children with disabilities receive specifically designed instruction at no cost to the parents. . 

Without federal oversight, there is a significant risk that states could adopt inconsistent policies, leading to disparities in services and protections. Every child, no matter where they live, deserves equitable access to educational opportunities and support.

Roughly 7.5 million students, or 15 percent of the student population, receive special education under IDEA, which provides $15 billion annually to support students with disabilities. The need for increased investments in IDEA is greater than ever with the number of K-12 students receiving special education services rising by over 850,000 from 2011 to 2021.

IDEA funding also supports personnel preparation programs that strengthen the pipeline of well-prepared special education teachers, early interventionists, and specialized instructional support personnel. Nearly every state reported a shortage of special education teachers last year. Further cuts to IDEA will limit schools' capacity to provide high-quality services to students with disabilities and increase class sizes.


If this program is eliminated and IDEA funding is cut, 7.5 million students, including 1.4 million students with a speech or language impairment,  could lose access to services that are essential for them to learn and thrive in the classroom. If this program is transferred to another agency, it is significantly less likely that students with disabilities receive the support, services, and protections they need and deserve.

States Depend on
Federal Funding

These funds

directly support:

  • Ensuring that all eligible children with disabilities receive special education services, regardless of their needs or the cost involved.

  • Identifying, locating, and evaluating children from birth to age 21 who require special education and related services.

  • Related services, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy,  help students maximize their educational outcomes.

  • Early intervention programs for young children with disabilities, which significantly impact their development.

  • Training teachers to ensure that students with disabilities receive the support they need in the classroom.

Impact Across States

Federal funding for schools in your state is on the chopping block, and millions of students will suffer if these dollars disappear. Without these critical investments, schools will struggle to keep teachers, provide essential programs, and ensure students have the resources they need to succeed.

Mississippi

15% of Mississippi’s students – more than 69,000 students – are diagnosed with a disability. These children depend on $156 million in annual funding to receive critical special education services such as speech-language pathology and occupational therapy. Federal funding covers a higher percentage of Mississippi’s costs than the national average. Without IDEA funding – thousands of students across Mississippi would have limited access to even the most basic special education services.

Oklahoma

As many as 120,000 children, more than 17% of the total student population, in Oklahoma living with disabilities could face reduced support – a cut in IDEA funding equivalent to removing approximately 650 teachers and related services providers from the classroom.

Pennsylvania

Slashing funding for students with disabilities would prevent 358,000 students in Pennsylvania with disabilities from receiving a free and appropriate education. Without $560 million in funding, schools will be forced to cut programs that provide special education and related services to students with disabilities. Currently, more than 21% of the total student population in Pennsylvania relies on this funding.