John,
This week I joined colleagues from both parties to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.
For fifty years, this landmark civil rights law has opened classroom doors for millions of students with disabilities across the country. It changed what families could expect from their public schools and it reshaped what our schools could provide. The progress has been extraordinary, but the truth is that we still have a long way to go.
Congress has never fulfilled its promise to fully fund IDEA – not once in five decades.
That shortfall leaves schools struggling, educators stretched thin, and families fighting every day just to secure the services their children are legally entitled to receive.
I hear from parents and teachers all the time who are doing everything they can with too few resources. They are not asking for favors. They are asking for the federal government to keep its word.
I have fought for years to make sure IDEA finally receives the full funding, and I will not stop until we deliver. It’s time Congress invests in special education and protects every student’s right to a quality public education.
This work takes persistence. I’m determined to see it through, but I need your support. Will you make a contribution today to help me stay in this fight for our students and their families?
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I wish I could tell you we weren’t fighting an uphill battle on this but the far right is escalating its attacks on our public education in ways we haven’t seen in decades.
They’re trying to eliminate inclusive education entirely, defund special education programs, and weaken the rights and supports that students with disabilities depend on.
IDEA ensures students with disabilities can learn alongside their peers, participate fully in their communities, and pursue futures that reflect their full potential. It is absolutely crucial to provide access to
opportunity, dignity, and belonging for students with disabilities.
That is the vision that motivated Congress 50 years ago, and it’s the vision we must recommit to today.
Until IDEA is fully funded, I will keep pushing to ensure every student has the support and opportunity they deserve in our public schools.
Your support makes all the difference at moments like this. If you can, please chip in today to help me keep fighting for students, families, and public education nationwide.
Thank you for being with me on this important work.
Jared
