Early this morning, House and Senate appropriators announced that a final deal has been reached on education, health, and other domestic spending. The negotiated Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services (Labor-H) bill includes [mostly] level funding for all K-12 education programs, including Title I and other titles of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as well as all of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While level funding means that no additional funding would flow to states and districts in the coming year for general or special education, the final deal is viewed overall as positive, given the steep cuts originally proposed to education by the House. The bill also avoids any block-granting of funds under ESEA or IDEA funds, as proposed by the White House, which COPAA and partners opposed. The bill also allocates specific funding for research as required by IDEA -at the Institute for Education Sciences- and explanatory language clarifies that Congress has not given authority to transfer any education funding to another Federal agency, and that no authorities exist for the Department of Education to transfer its fundamental responsibilities under authorized education laws. In response to the bill’s release, COPAA CEO Denise Marshall issued the following statement:

“COPAA is pleased that Congress has included key funding for programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and other education laws. We have advocated that these funds -and having the U.S. Department of Education (ED) continue to oversee and implement their use- are essential for early intervention, preschool, and K-12 education for all children with disabilities. We appreciate that Congress has clarified that ED must not transfer any education funding to another Federal agency unless such transfer authority is provided in an appropriations law, and that no authorities exist for ED to transfer its fundamental responsibilities under authorized federal education laws. It is clear that Congress has not approved abolishing the Department of Education and is vigilant in ensuring that interagency agreements are not used to accomplish the same goal.

Given grave concerns, COPAA has outlined this past year regarding proposals and Interagency Agreements to transfer education programs -including IDEA- to other federal agencies, that we do not think such arrangements are lawful or in the best interest of students with disabilities. Our children should not be used as test subjects under any circumstances. Congressional oversight is critical, and C OPAA will continue to advocate to protect the civil rights and educational opportunities of 9.5 million children with disabilities as well as push for Congressional hearings on any proposals that wreak havoc on our children, their families, and their schools.”

Learn more about COPAA’s work to protect children with disabilities.