K-12 Dive

As Congress debates the future of federal special education funding, the country feels the whiplash of funding being withheld. Lawmakers face a pivotal choice: Protect funding for national programs serving students with disabilities — or risk undoing decades of progress by shifting the responsibility to individual states. The outcome could have sweeping consequences for educational equity and the long-term success of millions of students.

A key piece of that funding — IDEA Part D — supports national programs, including teacher training, technical assistance and accessible instructional materials, making inclusive education possible nationwide. Yet, proposals in President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget request and in Project 2025 have suggested a different path: turning these national programs into state-run block grants or cutting them entirely.