What Are the Core Funding Components of Part B, Grants to States (Section 611) Funding in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)? Splitting the Bill: A Bellwether Series on Education Finance Equity. #18

More than 90% of IDEA funding is allocated to Part B, Grants to States (Section 611), which contains funding and policy provisions related to special education for children ages 3 to 21. The influence of federal Part B, Grants to States funding on state and local funding decisions is twofold: 1) it links eligibility for IDEA grants to compliance with programmatic and administrative requirements, and 2) it mandates that states and districts maintain consistent levels of state and local funding for special education annually. This brief details its eligibility requirements, allocation methods, and funding trends.