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Policy Priority
ADDITIONAL CHILD AND FAMILY INITIATIVES

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Overview

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 7.5 million eligible children and youth with disabilities across the country.

IDEA Part C focuses specifically on early intervention services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities from birth to age 3, and IDEA Part B, Section 619, authorizes supplementary grants to states for preschool programs serving children with disabilities ages 3 through 5.

Programs for young children with disabilities play a significant role in their development, which is particularly important when it comes to ensuring young children are ready for kindergarten and beyond.

IDEA Part B Preschool Grants are funded at $420 million and IDEA Part C Grants for Infants and Families are funded at $540 million for FY2025.

Top News and
Resources

Factsheets

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Overview

April 23, 2024

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 7 million eligible children and youth with disabilities across …

Policy Letters

FY2027: Community Letter to Appropriators Calls For increased Funding for Child Care and Early Learning

March 25, 2026

WASHINGTON – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) and a coalition of 87 major early education advocacy organizations from 32 states have a new letter to Congressional appropriators calling for …

Factsheets

2026: ABCs of Federal Early Learning & Child Care Funding Streams

February 25, 2026

Each year, millions of children from birth through age five benefit from an array of federal early learning and care programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services …


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