How the FY 2026 Budget Proposal Could Devastate Special Education Programs

The Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal calls for $12.35 billion in cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, with sweeping consequences for special education programs that support millions of children nationwide. From preschool services to civil rights enforcement, this proposal threatens the core infrastructure of support for students with disabilities.

Although the Administration describes the proposal as a simplification of education spending, the actual impact would be the elimination or consolidation of essential special education services, many of which are protected under federal law.

What the FY 2026 Budget Means for Special Education

The proposal targets multiple programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—both of which fund and protect services that are foundational to special education in the U.S.

Proposed Changes to IDEA and ESEA:

• Eliminates nearly all ESEA programs, except Title I

• Creates a new K–12 Simplified Funding Program ($2 billion block grant)

• Eliminates IDEA Part B preschool grants (for ages 3–5)

• Eliminates all IDEA Part D National Activities, including:

  • Parent Training and Information Centers

  • Technical assistance for schools

  • Teacher preparation programs

  • Accessible educational materials and assistive technology

These changes would not only undermine special education supports but also require congressional approval to rewrite existing legal obligations under IDEA and ESEA.

Early Childhood Special Education Is Especially at Risk

For families with young children, the risk is immediate and personal.

The proposed elimination of preschool special education grants under IDEA Part B (Section 619) would gut funding for early intervention services and classroom accommodations. This puts early IEP development, developmental screenings, and smooth kindergarten transitions into jeopardy.

Without these supports, many children will enter school already behind, with fewer opportunities to catch up.

Additional Cuts That Harm Special Education

The budget doesn't stop at preschool. It eliminates or slashes programs that directly support K–12 special education, parent advocacy, civil rights enforcement, and educator development:

• Parent Information Centers: eliminated

• National Center for Special Education Research: eliminated

• Office for Civil Rights: cut by one-third

• Education Innovation and Research (EIR): eliminated

• Adult Education and Preschool Development Grants: eliminated

• Youth Mentoring Programs: cut by over 50%

Even agencies that indirectly support special education—like the Administration for Community Living—are being consolidated into larger entities with reduced capacity and oversight.

Why These Cuts Matter for Special Education

These programs fund the essential infrastructure behind every successful special education journey: training teachers, equipping classrooms, supporting parents, and ensuring schools use evidence-based practices. Eliminating them would not only cause harm to families, but it would erode decades of bipartisan progress.

This isn’t about trimming budgets. It’s about removing the protections and supports that make public education equitable and accessible for children with disabilities.

What Families and Advocates Can Do Right Now

Congress—not the White House—has the final say on the budget. But decisions are already being made. Now is the time for families, advocates, and educators to speak out in support of special education funding.

📢 Take action:

• Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators

• Urge them to protect all IDEA and ESEA programs

• Demand full funding for preschool special education, parent centers, teacher training, and civil rights protections

Final Thoughts on Protecting Special Education

These are not just line items in the budget. They’re lifelines for millions of students with disabilities.

Without investment in special education, we risk leaving families without guidance, schools without trained staff, and children without the supports they need to thrive.

Let’s make it clear to Congress: special education is not optional—it’s essential.