1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to oppose the president’s FY 2026 budget proposal to eliminate the Preschool program and National Activities (Part D) grant programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Each IDEA program has a specific purpose, and Congress designed the components to work as a continuum, ensuring all eligible children with disabilities receive appropriate services and providing school districts with assistance to fully implement the law. The budget proposal maintains the Infant and Toddler program (Part C), . However, funding for Preschool and Part D is rolled into the Grants to States (Part B). This will create even more uncertainty and possibly further exacerbate deep educator shortages and challenges in delivering high-quality services across the range of ages and abilities. In addition, states do not have the capacity or resources to design, run, and manage grant competitions that are best directed from the U.S. Department of Education—for economies of scale and to ensure all states receive the benefits of these programs. Please oppose any efforts to eliminate IDEA Preschool and National Activities programs.  Each IDEA program, as delineated in federal statute, must be maintained with a specific funding stream.  Thank you for considering this information.