A new federal study could help answer a question families, schools and policymakers have asked for years: What does it actually cost to provide special education services that meet students’ needs?
According to a May 1, 2026, article by Kara Arundel in K-12 Dive, the U.S. Department of Education is moving forward with the $5.6 million National Study of Special Education Spending. The study will be the first comprehensive, federally supported look at special education spending in two decades.
The study is expected to examine how much is spent to educate students with disabilities, how that spending compares with spending for students without disabilities, what special education dollars pay for, and how closely federal funding is meeting the goals of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.
That last question matters. When IDEA was created in 1975, Congress set a goal for the federal government to cover 40% of the additional per-pupil cost of special education services. The article notes that federal funding has never reached that level and is currently about 10%.
For families, this study may feel far removed from daily IEP meetings, classroom supports and service decisions. But funding affects how schools staff programs, provide therapies, support teachers and deliver services students are entitled to receive.
The first report is not expected until 2028, but the study could provide important information for future conversations about how special education is funded and how students with disabilities are supported.
Encircle Families will continue helping Arizona families understand their rights, ask informed questions and navigate special education systems at no cost to families.
