Does the new funding in ARRA serve as a baseline for future funding of IDEA programs?
It is unclear. The U.S. Department of Education guidelines on IDEA and the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund repeatedly note that funding provided by ARRA represents a one time, historic infusion that is expected to be temporary and should not be used in a way that would create unsustainable commitments after ARRA funding runs out. However, because all IDEA programs have been underfunded for decades, ASHA believes ARRA’s investment must be the baseline for future federal funding of special education programs. ASHA and its members have long advocated for full funding of IDEA and therefore, will advocate for ARRA’s substantial investment to remain intact and increase in the future. Full funding is ASHA’s goal.
Related Questions
- Will there be additional funding for the new programs implemented in ARRA, for example the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program?
- If newly approved induction programs did not exist in the baseline funding year, are they eligible for Teacher Credentialing Block Grant (TCBG) funds?
- Are indirect costs allowable expenses under IDEA/Title I ARRA or ESF funding?
