“DEC Says NO!” to The FFY 2026 President’s Budget Request for IDEA and other Important Programs for Children and Families
- Division for Early Childhood (DEC)
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 11
What does the proposed FY 2026 federal budget mean to infants, toddlers, and young children experiencing delays or disabilities and their families? And what can YOU do about it?
The FY 2026 President’s federal budget request has been released. DEC has serious concerns about the potential impact of this budget proposal on our nation’s early intervention and early childhood special education system and the infants, toddlers, young children (0-8) and their families served or potentially served under IDEA.
We ask that you urge your congressional delegation to say NO to the FY 2026 President’s federal budget proposal.
Direct service programs, preservice university programs, research, professional development, technical assistance, and family support are impacted negatively by these proposed cuts.
These proposals will not save money. In fact, they will cost states and local communities more in terms of needing to revise, retrain, and try to fill the gaps left in the path of this proposal to make significant changes to IDEA.
The ultimate harm is to the children and families served in our IDEA programs!
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
We urge you to speak to your House representative and both of your Senators, using the information below to describe why programs under IDEA should not be blocked, why it matters to you, and why it matters to the children and families you work with. Share your stories to demonstrate the impact of the proposed change. Team with families to tell a story together.
The Message?
Say NO to an IDEA block grant to states that touts an increase which is not an increase, but the result of funds put into block grants from elimination of critical programs supporting the infrastructure of our system.
Say NO to the elimination of IDEA programs, supports, and services that have been critical to the system and families served.
Say NO to freezing IDEA funding levels again!
WHAT THIS BUDGET ACTUALLY DOES
1. Consolidates Five IDEA Part D Programs and the Preschool Special Education Grants into a Block Grants to States
Preschool Special Education Grants under IDEA Part B, as well as Personnel Preparation, Parent Centers, State Personnel Development, Technical Assistance and Dissemination, Educational Technology & Media, under IDEA Part D are eliminated as separate funding lines and consolidated into the Part B Grants to States program. The proposed funding is touted as an increase but in reality, all of the eliminated Part D budget lines and 619 Part B Preschool budget lines (services for 3-5) have been put into one consolidated funding line. There is no “new” money or “increase”.
The following are the six budget lines zeroed out/programs eliminated to “increase” funding to states.
Preschool Special Education Grants ($420 million)
State Personnel Development ($38.6M in FY2024)
Technical Assistance & Dissemination ($39.4M)
Personnel Preparation ($115M)
Parent Information Centers ($33.2M)
Educational Technology, Media, and Materials ($31.4M)
2. Continues to inadequately fund Early Intervention (EI) for Infants and Toddlers and separates EI from the block grants to states.
Part C program will continue to be funded at $540 million, the same level as FFY 2024 and FFY 2025. As a result of rising enrollment and increased costs, funding at the same amounts is actually a cut in the funds needed. Flexibility has been added for States to “use funding to identify and refer children who are expected to become eligible for early intervention—not just those already diagnosed”. Advocates are unclear on the meaning of this or how it is to change existing processes. Additionally, this flexibility is not paired with additional funding for intervention.
The proposed budget, by separating Part C of IDEA from the rest of IDEA, separates these programs from services previously provided under Part D programs to the Early Intervention Program (personnel preparation, parent support, TA, etc.).
3. Maintains Special Institutions
Funding for Gallaudet University, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and the American Printing House for the Blind is level-funded, protecting services for students with sensory impairments. Though as mentioned, level funding is always essentially a cut in funding as enrollment and costs rise each year.
4. Decreases Educational Research
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) would see a staggering 67% cut. Programs supporting research in special education, data systems, and dissemination are not funded but mentioned as part of planning for a new IES.
In addition:
We want to be clear that this message only speaks to the IDEA pieces in the proposed budget. There are devastating eliminations proposed to some HHS programs. The University Centers on Disabilities, LEND programs, Healthy Start, Preschool Development Programs, and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs are among a few of the programs cut or eliminated that currently make a quantifiable difference to the children and families we serve. In addition, the reconciliation process under way proposes significant funding cuts to SNAP and Medicaid that will significantly negatively impact families and programs that serve them.
Our Call to Action:
Professionals and families have worked for decades to create high quality early childhood/early childhood special education programs that have found their support in that which the proposed budget seeks to dismantle. NOW is the time to use our collective voice to save what we have built together! Now is the time to be louder than we ever have before! Now is the time to protect what matters!
How?
Raise Your Voice: Contact your members of Congress today.
Tell your Congressperson and both your Senators to VOTE NO on THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST for IDEA!
Be clear. Protecting the EI/ECSE 0-8 system begins with insisting that the Department of Education remain in place and is returned to its capacity prior to the extensive cuts.
Tell Your Story
Use the facts above to describe why IDEA services matter to you and/or the children and families you serve.
Share Widely
Mobilize your community of families, professionals, and advocates.
Young children with disabilities—and the families who love and support them—deserve better. This is not the time to go silent. It is the time to act.
Thank you for your important work for young children and their families!
