The "Keep Our PACT Act" mandates increased funding for Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act through 2035, with the goal of fulfilling the government's commitment to supporting education for all children.
Susie Lee
Representative
NV-3
The "Keep Our PACT Act" aims to increase funding for Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) between 2026 and 2035. This bill would mandate specific funding levels for these programs, gradually increasing the investment in education for disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. It designates these funding increases as emergency requirements, ensuring they are prioritized within the federal budget. The goal is to fulfill the federal government's commitment to supporting states in providing quality education for all children.
Keep Our PACT Act: Bill Boosts Funding for Special Education and Low-Income Schools Starting 2026
The Keep Our Promise to America's Children and Teachers Act (Keep Our PACT Act) is all about putting more money where it's needed in education. Specifically, it mandates big funding increases for two key programs: Title I-A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Title I-A helps schools in low-income areas, while IDEA supports students with disabilities. This bill locks in specific funding boosts every year from 2026 all the way through 2035, and it's calling the money an "emergency" to make sure it gets through. (SEC. 5.)
Cash for Classrooms
This bill sets a clear path for increased funding. For Title I-A, the numbers start at $20.5 billion in 2026 and climb to over $54 billion by 2035 (SEC. 3). For IDEA, the funding goes from around $23 billion in 2026 to almost $70 billion by 2035 (SEC. 4). The amounts are determined by either a set dollar figure or a percentage of the national average per-pupil expenditure, whichever is higher. The IDEA funds will become available on July 1 of each fiscal year, and remain available through September 30 of the following year. This staggered availability of funds is likely intended to align with the typical academic calendar and budgeting cycles of schools and school districts.
Real-World Ripple Effects
So, what does this mean in practice? Imagine a school district struggling with outdated textbooks and overcrowded classrooms. More Title I-A funds could mean new resources, more teachers, and smaller class sizes, giving kids in those schools a better shot. For a student with a learning disability, increased IDEA funding could translate to more specialized support, like one-on-one tutoring or assistive technology, that they need to thrive. The bill aims to address disparities and provide more equitable resources, which, based on the findings of the bill (SEC. 2) are key to children's success.
The Fine Print
While boosting funds for these programs is generally a good thing, there are a few practical points to consider. The "emergency" tag on the funding (SEC. 5) is a way to bypass some budget rules, which could speed things up but also raises questions about long-term financial planning. Also, while the bill sets the overall funding levels, it doesn't get into the nitty-gritty of exactly how that money gets divided up between states and school districts. That distribution process, which is usually handled by complex formulas and grant applications, will be crucial to ensure the funds reach the students who need them most. It will be important to pay attention to how that plays out to ensure fairness and real impact on the ground.