# Plain Language Summary: Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act

This bill increases federal funding for two special education programs that serve young children with disabilities. The first program, called Part C, provides early intervention services for babies and toddlers from birth to age three who have disabilities or developmental delays. The second program, Section 619, funds preschool special education services for children ages three to five with disabilities. Both programs help states provide therapies, evaluations, and educational support to help these children develop and prepare for school.

The bill addresses a real problem: funding for these programs has been shrinking for decades when adjusted for inflation. For Part C services, the amount spent per child dropped from $1,768 in 1999 to just $645 in 2017. For Section 619 preschool programs, it fell from $1,484 per child in 1992 to $529 in 2017. This means fewer resources are available to help each child, even though the number of children needing services hasn't decreased. The bill proposes gradually increasing federal funding over five years, starting in 2023 and reaching $1.2 billion for Section 619 and $1.7 billion for Part C by 2027.

If passed, this bill would help states expand and improve early intervention and preschool special education services. Families with young children who have disabilities would likely see better access to services like speech therapy, physical therapy, developmental evaluations, and special education instruction. Schools and service providers would have more resources to hire qualified professionals and serve more children. The bill's supporters argue that investing in these early services pays off because children who receive quality early intervention often have better long-term outcomes in school and life.

Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act

DeSaulnier, Mark

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).