H.R. 8465 — Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act

This section states congressional findings on the benefits of early intervention and preschool special education services under Part C (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) and Section 619 (20 U.S.C. 1419) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—including significant per-child funding erosion, from $3,902 in 1999 to $1,324 in 2023 for Part C (inflation-adjusted) and from $1,883 in 1992 to $849 in 2023 for Section 619 (inflation-adjusted)—and the need for additional funding to restore those amounts.

This section authorizes appropriations for Preschool Grants under section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—i.e., formula grants to states for special education and related services for children with disabilities ages 3 through 5—as follows: (1) $503 million for FY2027; (2) $683.5 million for FY2028; (3) $829.7 million for FY2029; (4) $1,008.9 million for FY2030; and (5) $1.22 billion for FY2031.

This section authorizes appropriations for part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—which funds state grants for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth through age 2) and their families—as follows: (1) $932 million for FY2027; (2) $974.8 million for FY2028; (3) $1.227 billion for FY2029; (4) $1.48 billion for FY2030; and (5) $1.722 billion for FY2031.