Every year, Congress writes appropriations or spending bills in response to a budget proposal provided by the president. Although a few of the education programs in President Obama’s current budget proposal (school improvement grants and Pell Grants, for example) receive significant increases, a number of programs (including IDEA) remain the same. In addition to proposing new programs focused on early education, wraparound services, high school graduation and college completion, President Obama has proposed reducing or eliminating other programs.

In response to President Obama’s budget proposal, the congressional appropriations committees are now developing their own spending bills, which must be passed by Congress. It’s important for you to contact your legislators and ask that they provide significant increases for programs that are important to you.