Program Office: Office of Special Education Programs(OSEP)
CFDA Number: 84.027
Program Type: Formula Grants
Also Known As: Grants to States for Education of Children With Disabilities, Part B, Sec. 611
The program provides formula grants to states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the secretary of the interior,
freely associated states, and outlying areas to assist them in meeting the costs of providing special education and
related services to children with disabilities. In general, if the appropriation increases, funds to states, the District
of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are distributed based on the amounts each state received for FY 1999 and the
relative numbers of children age 3 through 21 in their general populations and living in poverty, who are within
the age range for which each of these entities mandates services to children with disabilities. The formula contains
numerous provisions for situations in which the appropriation for the program remains constant, increases or
decreases, and for several maximum and minimum funding limitations. Funds not reserved for state-level activities
must be distributed to local education agencies (LEAs). Funds reserved for state-level activities may be used for
state administration and other state-level activities, including an LEA high-cost fund.
Funds under this program are combined with state and local funds to provide a free appropriate public education
(FAPE) to children with disabilities. Permitted expenditures include the salaries of special education teachers and
costs associated with related services personnel, such as speech therapists and psychologists. States may use funds
reserved for other state-level activities for a variety of specified activities, including: for support and direct
services, technical assistance and personnel preparation; to assist LEAs in providing positive behavioral
interventions and supports; and to improve the use of technology in the classroom. Some portion of funds reserved
for other state-level activities must be used for monitoring, enforcement and complaint investigation, and to
establish and implement the mediation process required by Sec. 615(e) of IDEA, including providing for the cost
of mediators and support personnel. Each state has the option to reserve a portion of funds the state reserves for
other state-level activities for a fund to assist LEAs in addressing the needs of high-cost children with disabilities.
If the state opts to reserve for this fund, it may reserve a larger portion of its award for other state-level activities,
and must reserve at least 10 percent of the amount set aside for other state-level activities for the fund.