Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act
Bill: S.3544 | Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood (D-NH)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act
This bill authorizes through FY2027 specified provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for early childhood education.
Specifically, the bill authorizes Part B, Section 619 (grants to states for preschool programs serving children with disabilities ages three to five) and Part C (grants to aid states in implementing early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families).

To authorize funding for section 619 and part C of the Individuals with 
                      Disabilities Education Act.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Funding Early Childhood is the Right 
IDEA Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) High-quality early intervention and preschool special 
        education services can change a child's developmental 
        trajectory and improve outcomes for children, families, and 
        communities.
            (2) Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
        Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) authorizes a grant program to aid 
        each State in implementing a system of early intervention 
        services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their 
        families.
            (3) Funding for such part C (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) has 
        eroded significantly in the last two decades, from a high of 
        $1,768 per child in 1999 to $645 per child in 2017, adjusted 
        for inflation.
            (4) Section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities 
        Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419) authorizes grants to States for 
        preschool programs serving children with disabilities ages 
        three to five.
            (5) Funding for such section 619 (20 U.S.C. 1419) has 
        eroded significantly in the last 25 years, from a high of 
        $1,484 per child in 1992, to $529 in 2017, adjusted for 
        inflation.
            (6) Infants, toddlers, and preschool children, and their 
        schools would benefit from additional funding to restore per 
        child amounts under part C and section 619 of the Individuals 
        with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; 1419) 
        to ensure continued delivery of high-quality early intervention 
        and preschool special education services.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR SECTION 619 OF THE IDEA.

    Section 619(j) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
(20 U.S.C. 1419(j)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            ``(1) $502,600,000 for fiscal year 2023;
            ``(2) $683,500,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            ``(3) $829,700,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            ``(4) $975,900,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
            ``(5) $1,220,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.''.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR PART C OF THE IDEA.

    Section 644 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
U.S.C. 1444) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 644. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``For the purpose of carrying out this part, there are authorized 
to be appropriated--
            ``(1) $731,900,000 for fiscal year 2023;
            ``(2) $974,800,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            ``(3) $1,227,400,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            ``(4) $1,480,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
            ``(5) $ 1,731,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.''.
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