AJE families, please consider contacting Congress and urging them to prioritize students with disabilities by providing an infusion of funds to IDEA in the next COVID-19 stimulus package.   As many AJE parents know from our trainings and their lived experiences, IDEA has never been fully funded, and this hurts students with disabilities.  COVID-19 has only made a difficult situation even harder.  Please see the information below from COPAA for more details.   

Congress is negotiating the next COVID-19 stimulus package. To date, funds provided to states and districts for education may be spent on special education, but no specific funding is allocated directly to support students with disabilities during the pandemic. With direct allocation of funds, students with disabilities may never receive the benefit of those relief funds.  To help influence the funding debate, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) is advocating that the stimulus must expressly include specific funding for IDEA. To accomplish this, Congress must fund the IDEA as proposed by Sens. Murphy (D-CT), Van Hollen (D-MD) and Hassan (D-NH) and provide $12 billion for the IDEA — $11 billion to Part B (K-12), $500 million to Part C (infant and toddlers), and $400 million to Part B Sec. 619 (preschool).

Seeing that D.C. does not have voting representation in Congress, consider contacting US Representatives & Senators from states you are otherwise connected to, or contact leadership in either the House or the Senate.

Find a list of US Representatives HERE!

Find a list of US Senators HERE!

See sample email script below (feel free to add details about your experiences): 

Dear Representative/Senator:

I am a (parent/advocate/advocate attorney from CITY/STATE) and am writing to urge you to prioritize the needs of students with disabilities in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill. (My child/children/families I work with) are counting on you to ensure that the next stimulus package includes critical funding for IDEA.

Given the effects of the national crisis, it is imperative that the next funding bill include funds for special education to ensure all aspects of the IDEA are upheld during the crisis. Providing specific funding for IDEA will: ensure all students with disabilities can receive a free, appropriate public education as required by the law; support teachers and other personnel; and promote collaboration between schools and families so they can find effective ways to ensure students receive specially designed instruction, therapies, services and other supports as determined by the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Students with disabilities are counting on you to ensure schools have adequate funds available to support their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs during the pandemic.

Please reach back out to me if you would like to learn more. For more information about special education during COVID-19 you can also visit the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates COVID-19 Page.

Sincerely,

NAME/CONTACT INFORMATION