U.S. Department of Education: Promoting Educational Excellence for all Americans
Skip secondary navigation.

Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Summary — February 14, 2011

 

Section II. B.  Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Overview

The Administration is committed to providing Americans with disabilities the opportunities and services they need to succeed in school, in the workplace, and in the community. The 2012 request funds a wide range of programs that can improve educational, employment, and independent living outcomes for people with disabilities.

The $12.9 billion request for Special Education programs focuses on improving educational and early intervention outcomes for children with disabilities. For the Grants to States program, the Administration is requesting $11.7 billion, an increase of $200 million over the 2011 CR level, to maintain the Federal contribution toward meeting the excess cost of special education at approximately 17 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure (APPE), and provide an estimated average of $1,765 per student for about 6.6 million children ages 3 through 21. Funding for the Preschool Grants program would be maintained at its 2011 CR level. Funding for the Grants for Infants and Families program would increase by $50 million above the 2011 CR level.

The $249.5 million request for Special Education National Activities would maintain level funding for most technical assistance, dissemination, training, and other activities that assist States, local educational agencies, parents, and others in improving results for children with disabilities. The proposed reduction of $10.7 million for the Technology and Media Services program reflects the elimination of earmarked activities.

The request also includes funding for two new Special Education programs, $5.0 million for a Mentoring for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities proposal, which would support activities to increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in social relationships and other aspects of community life, including education and employment, and $30 million for PROMISE: Promoting Readiness of Minors in SSI, which would fund State-level pilots to improve the educational, health, and employment outcomes for children with disabilities who are recipients of Supplemental Security Income payments and their families.

For Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research, the budget provides $3.5 billion to support comprehensive and coordinated vocational rehabilitation and independent living services for individuals with disabilities through research, training, demonstration, technical assistance, evaluation, and direct service programs. The $3.1 billion request for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) State Grants program includes the consolidation of the smaller VR-related programs under the Rehabilitation Act in order to reduce duplication of effort and administrative costs, streamline program administration at the Federal and local level, and improve accountability. A total of $56.3 million would be made available to the VR State Grants program from the consolidation of employment-related programs.

The budget also provides $103.7 million for a consolidated Grants for Independent Living program that would replace the Independent Living State Grants and Centers for Independent Living programs and would provide formula grants to States to support the provision of independent living services through centers for independent living. Under the proposed consolidation, each State would receive an amount that is equal to the combined amount received in fiscal year 2011 from the two programs.

In addition, a new $8 million National Activities to Improve Rehabilitation Services program would replace Demonstration and Training programs and consolidate the resources previously provided under the Evaluation and Program Improvement programs. An increase of $1.2 million is requested for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to support its ongoing programs of research and development and evaluation. An additional $10 million for NIDRR would support a Cloud Computing initiative that would seek to improve technology access for individuals with disabilities by providing accommodations on-demand.

The Administration also is requesting $30 million for an interagency Workforce Innovation Fund that would be used in combination with other funding provided by the Departments of Education and Labor. Funds would be used to encourage innovation and support projects to identify and validate effective strategies for improving the delivery of services and outcomes for beneficiaries under programs authorized by the Workforce Investment Act, including individuals with significant disabilities.

Special Education State Grants

Grants to States

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $11,505.2 $11,505.2 $11,705.2
       
Estimated average Federal
   share per child
$1,736 $1,735 $1,765

The Grants to States program, which is authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), makes formula grants that help States pay the additional costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities aged 3 through 21 years. The requested increase of $200 million, or 1.7 percent, over the 2011 CR level, would maintain the Federal contribution toward meeting the excess cost of special education at about 17 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure and provide a per-child average of $1,765 for an estimated 6,614,000 children with disabilities.

Under IDEA, States are required to provide a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities. Services are provided in accordance with individualized education programs that are developed by teams that include the child's parents; a special educator; a representative of the local educational agency; a regular educator, if appropriate; and others. In addition, services must be provided—to the maximum extent appropriate—in the least restrictive environment, which for most children means in classes with children who are not disabled. Students with disabilities also must be included in general State and district-wide assessments, including the assessments required under ESEA, and States must provide appropriate accommodations, where necessary, to enable children with disabilities to participate in these assessments, or alternate assessments for those children who cannot participate in regular assessments.

The request includes $29.0 million that would be reserved for technical assistance to improve the capacity of States to meet the data collection requirements of the IDEA.

Preschool Grants

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $374.1 $374.1 $374.1

This program provides formula grants to help States make a free appropriate public education available to all children with disabilities ages 3 through 5. The request would provide an estimated $511 per child for approximately 732,000 children to supplement funds provided under the Grants to States program and help to ensure that young children with disabilities are ready to learn when they enter school.

Grants for Infants and Families

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $439.4 $439.4 $489.4

This program provides formula grants to help States implement statewide systems of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, so that State and local agencies identify and serve children with disabilities early in life when interventions can be most effective in improving educational outcomes. The request would increase the average State allocation by $1 million, enabling States to provide high quality early intervention services to approximately 360,000 infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

Special Education National Activities

Special Education National Activities programs support State efforts to improve early intervention and educational results for children with disabilities. The total request for National Activities is $249.5 million.

State Personnel Development

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $48.0 $48.0 $48.0

This program provides competitive grants to help States reform and enhance their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in the areas of early intervention, educational, and transition services in order to improve results for children with disabilities. The request would support about 24 new and 23 continuation awards to State educational agencies to improve the knowledge and skills of special education and regular education teachers serving children with disabilities and help recruit and retain highly qualified personnel providing services to children with disabilities.

Technical Assistance and Dissemination

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $49.5 $49.5 $49.5

This program funds competitive grants for technical assistance and dissemination of materials based on knowledge gained through research and practice. The request, which is in addition to the separate $29 million set-aside under the Grants to States program to help States meet data collection requirements, includes about $8.4 million for new technical assistance, dissemination, and model projects, and $41.1 million for continuation projects.

Personnel Preparation

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $90.7 $90.7 $90.7

This program helps ensure that there are adequate numbers of personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to help children with disabilities succeed educationally. Program activities focus both on meeting the demand for personnel to serve children with disabilities and improving the qualifications of these personnel, with particular emphasis on incorporating knowledge gained from research and practice into training programs. The Department is required to support training for leadership personnel and personnel who work with children with low-incidence disabilities, at least one activity in the broadly defined area of personnel development, and enhanced support for beginning special educators. The request would provide $23.0 million for new competitive grants and $67.7 million for continuation awards.

Parent Information Centers

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $28.0 $28.0 $28.0

Parent Information Centers provide parents with the training and information they need to work with professionals in meeting the early intervention and special education needs of their children with disabilities. The request would support new competitive grants and continuation awards for about 102 centers as well as awards to provide technical assistance to the centers.

Technology and Media Services

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $44.0 $44.0 $33.3

This program makes competitive awards for research, development, and other activities that promote the use of technology, including universal design features, in providing special education and early intervention services. Funds also support media-related activities, such as providing video description and captioning of films and television for use in classrooms for individuals with visual and hearing impairments and increasing the availability of books in accessible formats for individuals with visual impairments and other print disabilities. The request, a decrease of $10.7 million from the 2011 CR level, eliminates funding for earmarks while ensuring that sufficient funds are available to support competitive grants for projects that will enhance the availability of technology and accessible educational materials for students with disabilities.

Other Special Education Activities

Special Olympics Education Programs

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $8.1 $8.1 $8.1

This program supports the expansion of Special Olympics and the design and implementation of Special Olympics education programs. The request includes funds to support Project UNIFY, an education program designed to develop teamwork skills and increase awareness and social acceptance of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Mentoring for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $5.0

This new program would support competitive grants for projects that conduct mentoring activities to increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in social relationships and other aspects of community life, including education and employment.

PROMISE: Promoting Readiness of Minors in SSI

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $30.0

This new program would fund pilot demonstration programs in selected States to improve the coordination and increase the use of existing services for which children receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments and their families are eligible, such as those available through the IDEA, Vocational Rehabilitation, Medicaid's care coordination services, Job Corps, Head Start, and Workforce Investment Act programs. The goal of the program is to improve outcomes of children who receive SSI, including their physical and emotional health and educational attainment and employment, as well as to provide improved services and support for the families of SSI recipients, including education and job training for parents.

Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) State Grants

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $3,084.7 $3,084.7 $3,141.0

This program, funded through a combination of mandatory and discretionary appropriations, provides formula grants to State VR agencies to help individuals with disabilities become gainfully employed. A wide range of services are provided each year to over 1 million individuals with disabilities, including vocational evaluation, counseling and guidance, work adjustment, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental impairments, education and vocational training, job placement, and post-employment services. States that are unable to serve all eligible individuals with disabilities who apply must give priority to individuals with the most significant disabilities. Services are provided according to an individualized plan for employment. In 2010, the VR program helped over 171,000 individuals with disabilities—92 percent with significant disabilities—achieve employment outcomes.

The request for the VR State Grants program reflects the Administration's proposal to consolidate the funds of the smaller VR-related programs and eliminate their separate funding authorities under the Rehabilitation Act in order to reduce duplication of effort and administrative costs, streamline program administration at the Federal and local level, and improve accountability. A total of $56.3 million would be made available to the VR State Grants program from the consolidation of employment-related programs, including Supported Employment State Grants, Projects with Industry, and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, and the funds currently provided to State VR agencies to support in-service training for agency personnel under the Training program. The request also includes $37.4 million for grants to Indian tribes.

Client Assistance State Grants

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $12.3 $12.3 $12.3

This program makes formula grants to States for activities to inform and advise clients of benefits available to them under the Rehabilitation Act, to assist them in their relationships with service providers, and to ensure the protection of their rights under the Act. The request would support advocacy services for approximately 64,400 individuals with disabilities.

Training

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $37.8 $37.8 $33.3

The Training program makes competitive grants to State and other public or nonprofit agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, to help ensure that personnel with adequate skills are available to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. The request includes a net reduction of $4.5 million from the 2011 CR level, reflecting the consolidation of $5.7 million for the In-Service Training program with the VR State Grants program and an increase of $1.2 million to the Training program for two training activities previously supported under Demonstration and Training programs.

National Activities to Improve Rehabilitation Services

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $8.0

This new program would support national activities that improve the administration and effectiveness of programs and services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act or further the purposes of the Act in promoting the employment and independence of individuals with disabilities in the community. Funds would support technical assistance and projects designed to improve program performance and the delivery of vocational rehabilitation and independent living services.

Independent Living
(B.A. in millions)

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
Grants for Independent Living $103.7
State Grants $23.5 $23.5
Centers 80.3 80.3
Services for Older Blind Individuals 34.2 34.2 34.2
Total
137.9

137.9

137.9

The independent living programs provide services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their independence and productivity and to help them integrate into the mainstream of American society. The budget includes $103.7 million for a new Grants for Independent Living program that would replace the Independent Living State Grants and Centers for Independent Living programs. The consolidated program would provide formula grants to States to support the provision of independent living services through centers for independent living and hold States accountable for implementing effective service systems. Under the proposed consolidation, a State would receive an amount that is equal to the combined amount the State received in fiscal year 2011 from the two programs.

The formula-based Services for Older Blind Individuals program assists individuals aged 55 or older whose severe visual impairments make competitive employment difficult to obtain, but for whom independent living goals are feasible. The request would directly support 77 designated State units under the Grants for Independent Living program and 56 grantees under the Services for Older Blind Individuals program.

Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR)

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $18.1 $18.1 $18.1

This formula grant program funds systems in each State to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities, helping them to pursue legal and administrative remedies to secure their rights under Federal law. The PAIR systems also provide information on, and referrals to, programs and services for individuals with disabilities. The request would support advocacy services to approximately 59,000 individuals with disabilities.

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $109.2 $109.2 $110.5

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) helps improve the lives of persons of all ages with disabilities through a comprehensive and coordinated program of research, demonstration projects, and related activities, including training of persons who provide rehabilitation services or conduct rehabilitation research. NIDRR awards discretionary grants that support Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers; Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers; Model Systems projects for Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Burn Injury; field-initiated research and development projects; and a wide range of additional research, demonstration, and training projects that address diverse issues in rehabilitation, including ways to improve educational, employment, and independent living opportunities for persons with disabilities. The request would fund continuation awards as well as $18.8 million for new grant activities, including new awards in two of the Model Systems programs, TBI and Burn Injury.

Access Through Cloud Computing

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $10.0

This proposed program would support research and development aimed at giving individuals with disabilities who use technology access any time, any place to needed accommodations that are stored remotely. This NIDRR-directed project would develop on-demand accessibility features and services and establish needed standards to facilitate implementation.

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $9.2 $9.2 $9.2

This program serves individuals who are deaf-blind, their families, and service providers through a national headquarters center with a residential training and rehabilitation facility and a network of 10 regional offices that provide referral, counseling, training, and technical assistance. At the request level, the Center would provide direct services for approximately 98 clients in its residential training and rehabilitation program and serve an estimated 1,700 individuals, 500 families, and 900 agencies through its regional offices.

Assistive Technology

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $31.0 $31.0 $31.0

Assistive Technology (AT) programs support grants to States to increase access to and funding for assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities of all ages. The request includes $25.7 million for the AT State grant program, $4.3 million for the Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology program, and $1.0 million for technical assistance required under the AT Act's National Activities authority.

Workforce Innovation Fund

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
B.A. in millions $30.0

These funds would be used in combination with other funds requested under the Adult Education State Grants program and various Department of Labor programs for an inter-agency Workforce Innovation Fund that would encourage innovation and support projects to identify and validate effective strategies for improving the delivery of services and outcomes for beneficiaries under programs authorized by the Workforce Investment Act, including individuals with significant disabilities.

Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities
(B.A. in millions)

  2010 2011 CR 2012
Request
 
American Printing House
  for the Blind (APH)
$24.6 $24.6 $24.6
National Technical Institute
  for the Deaf (NTID)
68.4 68.4 65.0
Gallaudet University 123.0 123.0 118.0
Total
216.0

216.0

207.6

The American Printing House for the Blind manufactures and distributes specially adapted educational materials for students who are visually impaired, offers advisory services for consumers and educational agencies, and conducts applied research related to the development of new products. At the request level, APH would provide free educational materials to approximately 60,350 persons with visual impairments at an average per student allotment of $319, continue funding for initiatives to improve its technical assistance and outreach services, and support a variety of new and continuing research projects.

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf provides postsecondary technical education and training for students who are deaf as well as graduate education and interpreter training for persons who are deaf or hearing. NTID also conducts research and provides training related to the education and employment of individuals who are deaf. The request would support education and training for approximately 1,263 undergraduate and technical students, 111 graduate students, and 147 interpreters for persons who are deaf. The request would maintain the 2011 CR level for operations and reduce construction funding to $2.0 million for the purpose of establishing a deferred maintenance account.

Gallaudet University offers undergraduate, continuing education, and graduate programs for persons who are deaf and hearing. Gallaudet also maintains and operates the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD). The request provides $118.0 million for operations, including funds for the Endowment Grant program. The $5 million decrease reflects the completion of previously funded construction projects. The request would help Gallaudet serve an estimated 2,142 undergraduate and graduate students and 280 elementary and secondary education students in the 2011-12 school year.

Elementary and Secondary Education  Table of contents  Career, Technical, and Adult
Education

For further information contact the ED Budget Service.

This page last modified—February 14, 2011(mjj).