Stimulus Funds Will Not Cancel Out State Funding - A Victory For the IDEA
The $12.
2 Billion allocated to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA") in the federal stimulus package narrowly went from a replacement of state funding that would have allowed states to spend less while keeping IDEA program funding level, to a measure that actually increases the total funds available for IDEA programs.
IDEA is essentially a funding law, providing guidelines for federal monies to be made available for the education of children with special needs.
The Act is clear that the funding it provides is made available to "supplement, not supplant" state funds allocated toward qualifying programs.
Although there are some exceptions, the state must meet guidelines and use federal monies as an addition to their special education budget, not as a dollar-for-dollar subsidy to such budget.
The original Senate version of the stimulus funding would have changed the rules, allowing states to use the funds in replacement of their own allocations.
Needless to say, this would have likely kept the IDEA funding level and acted as a "grant" from the federal government to the state governments, allowing them to lower their spending on special education, while keeping the overall budgeted amount the same.
Also, needless to say, this would have meant that the stimulus funding would have done nothing to improve the overall state of IDEA programs.
Therefore, special education advocates were understandably concerned about the spending rule change proposed by the Senate for the stimulus funds.
However, at the final hour, the Senate reverted to the standard spending rules with respect to the stimulus funding for IDEA, keeping the "supplement, not supplant" in place.
This was a relief for special education interests everywhere.
Whether the funding for IDEA is closely connected to the objectives of the stimulus plan is another debate.
In other words, experts have argued about whether the inclusion of education funding was directly essential to the goal of economic recovery, which is the raison d'etre of the stimulus package.
While critics have labeled the educational funding as "pork" that found a backdoor into the budget through the stimulus package, proponents believe that not only is preserving our educational standards essential for the economic future of our country, but that there are quantifiable short-term results as well.
For example, the Baltimore Sun reports that the jobs of state workers, including educators in Maryland were saved when the stimulus the allocation allowed Gov.
Martin O'Malley to cancel plans to lay off 700 state employees and slash millions from local school budgets.
Thus the funding not only affects the contribution of our children to the future economy, but saves jobs right now.
Regardless of whether one believes the funding was reasonably related to the objectives of the stimulus, few could argue about the legitimacy of IDEA's goals.
The important step is the use of the funds for the purposes of the IDEA.
We must learn a lesson from the ill-fated bank bailout money and see to it that the $12.
2 Billion actually improves the lives of children with special needs.
2 Billion allocated to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA") in the federal stimulus package narrowly went from a replacement of state funding that would have allowed states to spend less while keeping IDEA program funding level, to a measure that actually increases the total funds available for IDEA programs.
IDEA is essentially a funding law, providing guidelines for federal monies to be made available for the education of children with special needs.
The Act is clear that the funding it provides is made available to "supplement, not supplant" state funds allocated toward qualifying programs.
Although there are some exceptions, the state must meet guidelines and use federal monies as an addition to their special education budget, not as a dollar-for-dollar subsidy to such budget.
The original Senate version of the stimulus funding would have changed the rules, allowing states to use the funds in replacement of their own allocations.
Needless to say, this would have likely kept the IDEA funding level and acted as a "grant" from the federal government to the state governments, allowing them to lower their spending on special education, while keeping the overall budgeted amount the same.
Also, needless to say, this would have meant that the stimulus funding would have done nothing to improve the overall state of IDEA programs.
Therefore, special education advocates were understandably concerned about the spending rule change proposed by the Senate for the stimulus funds.
However, at the final hour, the Senate reverted to the standard spending rules with respect to the stimulus funding for IDEA, keeping the "supplement, not supplant" in place.
This was a relief for special education interests everywhere.
Whether the funding for IDEA is closely connected to the objectives of the stimulus plan is another debate.
In other words, experts have argued about whether the inclusion of education funding was directly essential to the goal of economic recovery, which is the raison d'etre of the stimulus package.
While critics have labeled the educational funding as "pork" that found a backdoor into the budget through the stimulus package, proponents believe that not only is preserving our educational standards essential for the economic future of our country, but that there are quantifiable short-term results as well.
For example, the Baltimore Sun reports that the jobs of state workers, including educators in Maryland were saved when the stimulus the allocation allowed Gov.
Martin O'Malley to cancel plans to lay off 700 state employees and slash millions from local school budgets.
Thus the funding not only affects the contribution of our children to the future economy, but saves jobs right now.
Regardless of whether one believes the funding was reasonably related to the objectives of the stimulus, few could argue about the legitimacy of IDEA's goals.
The important step is the use of the funds for the purposes of the IDEA.
We must learn a lesson from the ill-fated bank bailout money and see to it that the $12.
2 Billion actually improves the lives of children with special needs.
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