Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1541528
IDEA: Fund It Fully! Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is chronically underfunded, while special education monies and services are on the chopping block T H I S Y E A R , while our union and the nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), its promise remains unfulfilled and federal special education funding is in danger of being cut altogether. Special education programs address our most vulnerable students' unique needs. Public schools provide special educa- tion services to more than 7 million students with disabilities nationwide. But our schools constantly struggle to fund these services because they don't receive adequate federal support. IDEA was signed into law in 1975 and reauthorized in 1990 and 2004. Before IDEA, students with disabilities were cast aside and denied opportunity. With the passage of IDEA, Congress committed to fund 40% of the average per-pupil cost for special education. But Congress has never funded more than 17%; cur- rent funding is a paltry 13%. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration is taking steps to decimate special education. After making deep cuts to staff at the Department of Education last spring, the administration recently cut more, particularly staff that carries out services for students with disabilities, oversees $15 billion in special 38 cta.org Advocacy