Sponsors (27)
The bill secures predictable, multi-year increases in federal support for early intervention and preschool special education—benefiting young children with disabilities, families, and local schools—while raising federal spending that could burden taxpayers, risk unmet expectations if Congress doesn't appropriate the amounts, and introduce accountability, flexibility, and administrative trade-offs for states.
Children with disabilities (infants, toddlers, and preschoolers) would receive increased and restored federal funding for early intervention and preschool special education from FY2027–FY2031, expanding service availability and improving developmental outcomes and school readiness.
State and local education agencies can plan services, staffing, and budgets more reliably because the bill specifies fixed authorized amounts for five fiscal years, providing multi-year funding certainty.
Parents and families of young children with disabilities could face lower caregiving burdens and stress as strengthened early intervention services reduce unmet needs.
Taxpayers face higher federal spending obligations if Congress appropriates the increased authorized amounts, potentially requiring higher taxes or offsets from other programs.
States and local districts risk unmet expectations and planning disruptions because specified authorizations do not guarantee that Congress will appropriate the full amounts.
If increased funding is provided without clear accountability or effective oversight, children and families may not see improved services despite higher federal spending.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Specifies annual authorization amounts for IDEA Part C and Section 619 for FY2027–FY2031, replacing prior open-ended or older authorizations.
Official title: To authorize funding for section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Introduced April 23, 2026 by Mark James Desaulnier · Last progress April 23, 2026
Directs fixed, dollarized annual authorization levels for IDEA early childhood programs for fiscal years 2027–2031. It replaces prior open-ended or older authorizations by specifying exact funding amounts for Part C (early intervention) and Section 619 (preschool grants) for each year listed. Also includes congressional findings noting long-term, inflation-adjusted per-child funding declines for both Part C and Section 619 and asserts additional funding is needed to restore per-child support. The bill does not change eligibility, formulas, or program rules—only the authorized funding levels for the listed years.