On May 4, 2026 the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) published notice in the Federal Register and asked for clearance from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to begin its work on a national study of special education spending.
The $5.6 million National Study of Special Education Spending was first announced three years ago by the USDE under the Biden administration and seeks to give policymakers and special education administrators an updated picture of what influences special education spending under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Research questions will include:
-How much is spent to educate students with disabilities? How does that compare to spending on their peers without disabilities?
-To what extent do spending amounts reflect students’ needs compared to where they live or go to school?
-What does special education spending pay for, and what role does IDEA play?
-To what extent is the federal contribution to special education funding meeting its target?
The first report from the study is not expected until 2028.
For more from K-12 Dive, click here.