On November 29, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed into law the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142), now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Congress reauthorized the IDEA in 2004 and most recently amended the IDEA through Public Law 114-95, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), in December 2015.
IDEA is a grant statute that provides federal funding for the education of children with disabilities and requires, as a condition for the receipt of such funds, that states agree to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE; i.e., specially designed instruction provided at no cost to the parents that meets the needs of a child with a disability) to every eligible child.
Liberty Hill ISD is eligible for funds under this grant which support children with disabilities ages 3 through 21. The purpose of these IDEA grant funds are to supplement Federal, State, and local funds to support the goal of providing full educational opportunity for all children with disabilities.
IDEA grant is considered a formula grant. The legislation authorizing a formula grant includes a mathematical formula for calculating the amount of grant funds, or the entitlement, that each eligible applicant may receive.
We will continue to communicate with staff, parents, and the community on the District’s progress with formulating a plan and having that approved by the TEA. The District will also monitor the continued guidance that the Agency releases. There will be an application process through TEA to access these funds, which involves completion of a grant application. Input from staff and community will be used to create a plan to expend these funds.
Public Comment
In accordance with federal regulations, a school district planning to submit a federal grant application must offer a reasonable opportunity for public comment on the application before it is submitted to the Texas Education Agency for approval. Liberty Hill ISD intends to re-apply for the following IDEA B grant programs for the upcoming school year. Public comments will continue to be monitored and considered as we plan and work on the grants listed above for the future school year.
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