Chalkbeat

President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget would cut nearly $6 billion from K-12 education and consolidate 18 grant programs into a single funding stream that states could spend as they wish. The proposal to do away with distinct grant programs could serve as a test run for converting federal education funds to block grants, which allow more flexibility but provide less accountability for how money is spent. The budget proposal released Friday is for the 2026 fiscal year, which starts in October and affects school district budgets mostly in the 2026-27 school year. It calls for holding funding steady for Title I, an $18 billion program that supports schools serving students from low-income households, and for the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or IDEA, which provides $14 billion to offset a portion of special education costs. These are prominent and popular programs that Education Secretary Linda McMahon has promised would not be cut. Denise Marshall, CEO of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, which advocates for students with disabilities, said the administration cannot say it is supporting students when funding for IDEA and early intervention is flat.