Concord, N.H. – Today, in the wake of President Trump’s lawless efforts to dismantle the United States Department of Education, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander is helping to lead the way forward to the swift passage of bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the IDEA Full Funding Act, that will ensure all children with disabilities can access high-quality public education.
Since 1975, Congress has promised that students with disabilities will have an equal opportunity to learn and grow as any other student. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal government committed to funding 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure for special education. However, the federal government has never delivered on that promise, and current federal funding is below 13 percent.
The IDEA plays a major role in New Hampshire public schools. In 2024, New Hampshire received $61.7 million in funding under the IDEA, which helped to deliver support to more than 30,000 students with disabilities. However, due to underfunding, our state loses out on tens of millions of additional dollars promised to us under federal law. For example, under full funding, New Hampshire should have received a total of $143.8 million – a gap of $92.2 million in FY 2020.
The bipartisan bill Congresswoman Goodlander is fighting to get across the finish line — entitled the IDEA Full Funding Act — is designed to ensure that the federal government finally meets its promise under the IDEA by requiring regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending.
“New Hampshire’s students are America’s future. I work for them, and it’s my job to do everything in my power to deliver a high-quality public education and a level playing field to learn and grow for each and every student,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Year after year for 50 years, the federal government has failed to live up to the promises made under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). That’s not right. Congress can and must finally deliver by passing this commonsense, bipartisan bill that will at long last address chronically underfunded special education services promised to New Hampshire and ensure every student in our state has the support they need to thrive. Let’s get this done.”
“All of our students deserve the chance to learn, grow and thrive in their public schools because that’s where we are building the leaders of the future,” said Deb Howes, President of the American Federation of Teachers – NH. “For our students with special education needs, the extra academic, behavioral, physical, or emotional supports that are outlined in their individual education plans give them fair access to their public education. Fully funding IDEA means these students can fully participate in their public education and just focus on learning, without the cost to their local communities being an annual struggle.”
Text of the IDEA Full Funding Act can be viewed here.
Congresswoman Goodlander is a fierce fighter for New Hampshire students and educators. She is a member of the House Rapid Response Task Force and Litigation Working Group, supporting litigation to protect and defend Granite Staters from the onslaught of unlawful Trump Administration executive actions. The Trump Administration is facing multiple lawsuits against their efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, including State of New York v. McMahon, Carter v. Department of Education, and Somerville Public Schools v. Trump.
