NSBA 2024-25 President Donald Hubler
January 15, 2025
NSBA 2024-25 President Donald Hubler reminds readers that for far too long, the federal government has not met its Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding commitment. This unfunded mandate leaves states and local school districts with the additional costs required to provide the services needed by our students with disabilities.
School boards and educators are committed to providing students with disabilities and their families the supports they need to become working, contributing, engaging members of society. For far too long, the federal government has not met its Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding commitment, leaving states and local school districts with the additional costs required to provide the services needed by our students with disabilities.
This unkept promise—the largest unfunded mandate in the nation’s history—has consequences for students with disabilities, their families, and the school districts striving to meet their needs. When IDEA was enacted in 1975, Congress recognized the importance of providing a free and appropriate public education to students with disabilities. To support this goal, the federal government pledged to fund 40% of the additional costs associated with special education. A half century later, federal contributions consistently fall short. This chronic underfunding undermines IDEA’s mission and leaves states and school districts struggling to fill the gap. (Please review the Congressional Research Service report, "IDEA Funding: A Primer" at https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/r/r44624.)
The impact is both financial and educational. State and local governments must cover the shortfall, often at the expense of other critical programs. School boards must make difficult choices. Local districts are forced to divert resources from general education, delay infrastructure improvements, or stretch already-limited budgets to meet the mandates of IDEA. This is particularly challenging for rural and under-resourced districts, where fiscal constraints are most acute.
For students, the consequences are personal and profound. IDEA ensures that students with disabilities receive the tailored services and supports they need to thrive—whether through individualized education programs (IEPs), assistive technology, or specialized staff. But underfunding strains the ability of schools to provide these resources equitably. The result is larger caseloads for special education teachers, delays in accessing critical services, and missed opportunities for students to reach their potential.
NSBA supports the original intent and goals of IDEA. Advocating for full funding of IDEA is not only about financial equity—it is about justice. Students with disabilities are entitled to the same educational opportunities as their peers, and the federal government has a legal and moral obligation to honor that commitment.
NSBA continues to strongly urge the federal government to provide the level of dedicated annual funding commensurate with IDEA's vision. This February, at NSBA’s Advocacy & Equity Institute, school board members will spend the concluding day of the institute in Washington, D.C., meeting with their Congressional representatives to discuss the impact of the failure to fully fund IDEA on their local schools.
Together, we can ensure that IDEA lives up to its vision and that every student, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to succeed. I urge you to reach out to your elected officials. Share the stories of how underfunding affects your schools, students, and communities. Build partnerships with local organizations to advocate for increased IDEA funding.
It is our responsibility to ensure that children have access to the resources they need to succeed. IDEA was a groundbreaking promise to students with disabilities and their families. It is time for the federal government to live up to that promise.
Donald R. Hubler is NSBA’s 2024-25 president and a member of the Macomb Intermediate School District Board of Education, Clinton Township, Michigan.