H.R. 1878House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

IDEA Full Funding Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:15 AM UTC

The IDEA Full Funding Act would change the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act so that the federal government fully funds the special‑education portion (Part B). It sets specific dollar amounts and percentage levels of funding for each fiscal year from 2019 through 2028 and thereafter, based on the number of children with disabilities and average per‑pupil spending. The bill also requires that these new appropriations be financed under existing pay‑as‑you‑go budget rules.

Key Provisions

Amends IDEA Section 611(i) to authorize set federal funding amounts for Part B, starting at about $14 billion (16.2% of the calculated amount) for FY 2019 and increasing each year, reaching $43 billion (40%) for FY 2028 and all later years.
Specifies a matching appropriation amount (around 1.9%–28.6% of the calculated amount) for each fiscal year to accompany the primary funding level.
Defines the funding calculation as the product of the total number of children with disabilities (ages 3‑21) receiving special education and the average per‑pupil expenditure in U.S. public schools.
Requires that the new appropriations be spent in line with pay‑as‑you‑go budget requirements.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

March 26, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 26, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

March 26, 2019

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1878 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Glenn ThompsonR-PA-15 · Apr 2, 2019

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Easterseals on its 100th anniversary. Easterseals is a network of more than 70 leading nonprofit organizations that provide local services and support to…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Easterseals on its 100th anniversary.

Easterseals is a network of more than 70 leading nonprofit organizations that provide local services and support to children and adults with disabilities, veterans, and older adults.

Founded in 1919 in Ohio, Easterseals works nationwide, in almost every State, to help Americans achieve milestones, live independently, and be active members of their communities.

Easterseals employs more than 30,000 professional staff across the country, including therapists, nurses, employment specialists, and direct support professionals who deliver high-quality services.

Over the past century, Easterseals has helped millions of individuals and families by assisting children who have disabilities; helping them access early intervention, including physical and speech therapies, to help prepare them for successful learning; providing in-home and community adult day services for seniors and people with disabilities; helping individuals with disabilities, veterans, and seniors find meaningful employment; and providing camping and recreational opportunities to youth and adults with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, Easterseals provides autistic individuals early education, employment, camping, caregiving, transportation, and other services to support Americans of all ages.

The number of children in the U.S. with developmental delays is on the rise. A recent study found that approximately 13 percent of infants and toddlers have a developmental delay. Research has also shown that one in

three children who receive early intervention services will not require special education in preschool.

Mr. Speaker, we know that the first few years of a child's life will lay the foundation for his or her long-term well-being and overall success. That is why I am a strong proponent of Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

We can't guarantee that every child will be successful in life, but we can give them the same access to early educational opportunities. This is just one of many reasons why I introduced H.R. 1695, the Community Services Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2019. This legislation renews our Nation's commitment to reducing poverty through locally driven comprehensive approaches.

Head Start and early education programs are operated through community action agencies and promote school readiness through enhancing the cognitive, physical, behavorial, and social-emotional development of children from low-income families. Easterseals specializes in early childhood development where children with and without disabilities can learn together.

Another piece of legislation I am cosponsoring is H.R. 1878, the IDEA Full Funding Act. This would ensure that individuals with disabilities are receiving an appropriate education.

In the 1970s, Congress promised to cover 40 percent of the extra cost of special education, but we never come close to fulfilling that promise. In fact, current funding remains only at 14 percent of the targeted amount. This bill would mandate gradual increases in IDEA funding to reach the full commitment--40 percent, a commitment made by Congress--by fiscal year 2029 and each subsequent fiscal year after that. Easterseals is also supportive of this legislation.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, three Easterseals affiliates serve 67 counties. They employ almost 700 people, and they serve nearly 27,900 individuals. Mr. Speaker, these are just some of the incredible services Easterseals works to provide to American families.

For the past 100 years, it has leveraged its network of nonprofits to improve the lives of others. In schools, workplaces, and communities, Easterseals has fostered environments where everyone is included and valued, regardless of age or ability.

I congratulate Easterseals for its contributions to improving so many lives over the past 100 years.

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 26, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1878

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 26, 2019

Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Katko, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. McNerney, Ms. Sewell of Alabama, Mrs. Craig, and Mr. Stauber) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To amend part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide full Federal funding of such part.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the IDEA Full Funding Act.

Amendment to IDEA

Section 611(i) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411(i)) is amended to read as follows:

(i)

Funding

(1)

In general

For the purpose of carrying out this part, other than section 619, there are authorized to be appropriated—

(A)

$14,036,427,000 or 16.2 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2019, and there are hereby appropriated $1,651,792,000 or 1.9 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2019, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2019, and shall remain available through September 30, 2020;

(B)

$15,908,525,000 or 17.9 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2020, and there are hereby appropriated $3,523,890,000 or 3.9 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2020, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2020, and shall remain available through September 30, 2021;

(C)

$18,030,313,000 or 19.8 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2021, and there are hereby appropriated $5,645,678,000 or 6.1 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2021, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2021, and shall remain available through September 30, 2022;

(D)

$20,435,093,000 or 21.9 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2022, and there are hereby appropriated $8,050,458,000 or 8.5 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2022, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2022, and shall remain available through September 30, 2023;

(E)

$23,160,608,000 or 24.2 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2023, and there are hereby appropriated $10,775,973,000 or 11.1 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2023, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2023, and shall remain available through September 30, 2024;

(F)

$26,249,637,000 or 26.8 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2024, and there are hereby appropriated $13,865,003,000 or 13.8 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2024, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2024, and shall remain available through September 30, 2025;

(G)

$29,750,664,000 or 29.6 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2025, and there are hereby appropriated $17,366,029,000 or 17.2 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2025, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2025, and shall remain available through September 30, 2026;

(H)

$33,718,634,000 or 32.7 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2026, and there are hereby appropriated $21,334,002,000 or 20.6 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2026, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2026, and shall remain available through September 30, 2027;

(I)

$38,215,836,000 or 36.2 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2027, and there are hereby appropriated $25,831,201,000 or 24.4 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2027, which shall become available for obligation on July 1, 2027, and shall remain available through September 30, 2028; and

(J)

$43,312,845,000 or 40 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2028 and each subsequent fiscal year, and there are hereby appropriated $30,928,210,000 or 28.6 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (2), whichever is greater, for fiscal year 2028 and each subsequent fiscal year, which—

(i)

shall become available for obligation with respect to fiscal year 2028 on July 1, 2028, and shall remain available through September 30, 2029; and

(ii)

shall become available for obligation with respect to each subsequent fiscal year on July 1 of that fiscal year and shall remain available through September 30 of the succeeding fiscal year.

(2)

Amount

With respect to each subparagraph of paragraph (1), the amount determined under this paragraph is the product of—

(A)

the total number of children with disabilities in all States who—

(i)

received special education and related services during the last school year that concluded before the first day of the fiscal year for which the determination is made; and

(ii)

were aged—

(I)

3 through 5 (with respect to the States that were eligible for grants under section 619); and

(II)

6 through 21; and

(B)

the average per-pupil expenditure in public elementary schools and secondary schools in the United States.

Offsets

The amounts appropriated in 611(i) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411(i)), as amended by section 2 of this Act, shall be expended consistent with pay-as-you-go requirements.