On May 30, the Administration released a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal which proposes $12.35 billion in cuts to the U.S. Department of Education (ED), which includes significant eliminations and consolidations of authorized programs under both the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Specifically, most of ESEA’s Title programs (except for Title I) are eliminated, and a smaller “K-12 Simplified Funding Program” is established, providing states with the flexibility to determine how to prioritize the funds. Such consolidation would require approval by Congress. 

For IDEA, the budget proposes the elimination of current Part B 619 preschool grants (ages 3-5) and all Part D National Activities programs with the recommendation to transfer [all] to the Part B grants to states (ages 6-21). Because currentlaw does not allow this flexibility -and in fact requires specific activities to be funded and overseen by the Secretary under IDEA Part B 619 and Part D- ED has requested Congress to provide “new appropriations language that would allow States to reserve additional funds for activities previously administered by the Department under the National Activities and Preschool Grant programs.” If approved, states would then determine whether and how to fund preschool education for children with disabilities, parent training and information centers, personnel preparation for special educators, technical assistance in evidence-based practices, and accessible classrooms, materials, and assistive technology. Significant cuts are also proposed to research and innovation (e.g., eliminating the National Center for Special Education Research, among others), and the Office for Civil Rights budget is cut by one-third. Other agencies, such as Health and Human Services (HHS) include major consolidation of programs to include the proposed elimination of the Administration for Community Living (wrapped into the Office for Children and Families). While most disability support programs (e.g., protection and advocacy, developmental disability councils etc.,) remain intact, the consolidation is concerning given that capacity at HHS has been impacted due to a recent reduction in force. 

On the process front, appropriators have just begun negotiations on FY 2026 bills, and ultimately, it is up to Congress, and not the Administration, to determine spending priorities and levels. To highlight details from the FY 2026 budget, Stride Policy has prepared the attached chart for your reference and to ensure Congress hears from COPAA’s members, we urge you to email your Representative and Senators about the need to invest in all of IDEA’s programs to ensure students with disabilities thrive.