July 14,2023 the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies approved a bill that would cut education spending by 28 percent for Fiscal Year 2024.

Approximately 7.5 million children & youth receive special education services in public schools under IDEA in the United States, yet IDEA funding, when adjusted for inflation, has actually decreased over the last decade.

The shortage of special educators is at a breaking point-48 states and DC report special ed shortages and most states report it is at their highest shortage area, and this is a crisis that predates the pandemic but has gotten worse since 2021. Lobbying efforts are underway for $300 million in IDEA part D personnel preparation; $300 million in the Augustus F. Hawkins Center for Excellence Program, and $1 billion for teacher quality partnerships.

1 in 6  students has a mental health disorder, and only half get the services they need and most students who receive mental health services get those services in schools. Lobbying efforts requesting Congress expand the Mental Health In School act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.