Title 20 › Chapter 33— EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES › Subchapter II— ASSISTANCE FOR EDUCATION OF ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES › § 1411
The Secretary of Education must give federal money to States, outlying areas, freely associated States (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau), and to the Secretary of the Interior so children with disabilities get special education and related services. For fiscal years 2005–2006, a State’s maximum grant is the number of children with disabilities (ages 3–5, if eligible under section 1419, and ages 6–21) multiplied by 40 percent of the U.S. average per-pupil spending. For 2007 and later, the grant is based on the State’s 2004–2005 child count, times 40 percent of that average, and adjusted each year by the rate of change in a weighted State population measure (85% / 15%). From each year’s appropriation the Secretary may set aside up to 1% for outlying areas and freely associated States (freely associated States must get at least their FY2023 share and may use funds for either a free appropriate public education or early intervention for infants/toddlers), 1.226% for the Secretary of the Interior, and up to 0.5% for technical assistance (capped at $25,000,000, adjusted by the Consumer Price Index). After those reserves, the remaining money is split among States using a formula that protects each State’s past amounts. The formula starts with each State’s FY1999 amount, then gives 85% of remaining funds based on each State’s share of children ages 3–21 and 15% based on children in poverty, with rules to prevent large drops and to reduce all allocations proportionally if funds are short. States may keep some funds for administration (up to the greater of the FY2004 admin amount or $800,000 adjusted for inflation) and may reserve up to about 10% for State-level activities (special rules apply for small States and certain years). State-level funds may pay for monitoring, mediation, training, technology, mental health supports, transition services, and other activities. A State may set up a high-cost fund from up to 10% of its State-level money to help local school districts with very expensive special education students; a high-need child for that fund must cost more than three times the State’s average per-pupil spending, and the State must publish a plan (develop within 90 days, final plan public at least 30 days before the school year). States must give the rest of their grant to local educational agencies (including charter schools). Local distributions first give each agency its FY1999 baseline and then divide remaining funds 85% by enrollment and 15% by poverty. For children on reservations, 80% of the 1.226% Interior set-aside goes to the Secretary of the Interior for children ages 5–21 (80% of that by July 1 and 20% by September 30), and 20% goes to tribes or tribal organizations for children ages 3–5, paid by child count and used for early identification, parent training, and direct services (not for Interior administrative costs); the Interior must meet coordination and reporting requirements or payments may be withheld. The law defines average per-pupil spending as total current school expenditures divided by average daily attendance, and “State” to include the 50 States, DC, and Puerto Rico. The law authorized these specific appropriations: $12,358,376,571 for FY2005; $14,648,647,143 for FY2006; $16,938,917,714 for FY2007; $19,229,188,286 for FY2008; $21,519,458,857 for FY2009; $23,809,729,429 for FY2010; $26,100,000,000 for FY2011; and such sums as may be necessary for FY2012 and later years.
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Reference
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 1411
Title 20 — Education
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60