Funds Unfrozen: How Schools Can Turn $6 Billion Into Real Support for SPED Teams
Jamilah F. Bashir, M.Ed.
I help principals increase their special education teachers performance by tailoring support to their needs, so they can THRIVE & not just SURVIVE! Consultant | IEP Coach | Author | Speaker
The U.S. Department of Education just released more than $6 billion in previously frozen funds, and schools are now in a sprint to decide how to use them before the school year begins.
For special education teams, this is both an opportunity and a challenge. Funding alone doesn’t guarantee impact. The question is: how can we use these dollars to directly strengthen SPED classrooms, teachers, and compliance systems?
Let’s break down where the funds are headed and the strategies you can use right away to put them to work.
Where the Money Is Going
Title II‑A ($2.2B): Professional development for teachers & leaders
Title III‑A ($890M): English learner supports (including multilingual students with IEPs)
Title IV‑A ($1.3B): Student support & academic enrichment (after-school, summer, SEL)
Other Streams: Migrant education, adult literacy, and smaller discretionary grants
Strategies for Administrators
1. Build a 90‑Day SPED Funding Roadmap
Don’t let the dollars sit idle or get absorbed into general budgets.
Action Steps:
Convene a cross‑team meeting (SPED director, principals, PD coordinator, fiscal lead).
Assign each funding stream a “SPED priority project” (e.g., Title II‑A → para training, Title IV‑A → summer bridge programs).
Draft a simple 90‑day spending plan with measurable outcomes.
Example:
August: Train paras using Title II‑A funds.
September: Launch weekly after-school literacy clubs for IEP students with Title IV‑A funds.
October: Host bilingual parent workshops funded by Title III‑A.
2. Invest in Targeted PD for SPED Staff
Use Title II‑A dollars to go beyond generic PD.
High‑Impact PD Topics:
Writing defensible IEPs that withstand audits
Behavior intervention & de‑escalation
Co‑teaching models that work
Data collection for progress monitoring
Action Step: Partner with external trainers (👋 The IEP Coach LLC!) or contract expert facilitators to ensure content is SPED‑specific and practical.
3. Ensure Equitable Access in Title IV Programs
After-school and summer programs are often designed for the “average student.” Make sure your students with disabilities are included.
Action Steps:
Require program staff to review IEP accommodations.
Provide sensory‑friendly spaces or breaks.
Allocate funds for 1:1 aides or paraprofessional support.
Build in academic reinforcement linked to IEP goals.
4. Track Spending with a Compliance Lens
With OCR oversight shrinking, documentation is your best shield.
Action Steps:
Maintain a log of how each dollar supports IDEA compliance and equity.
Align funded activities with IEP goals, student outcomes, and district needs.
Create a quarterly “Funding Impact Report” for leadership and the school board.
5. Communicate Wins to Your Staff
Build trust by showing teachers where the money is going.
Example Announcement Script:
“Thanks to the newly released funds, we’ll be launching a para training series in August, funding a bilingual parent workshop, and providing SPED teachers with additional PD. This is about equipping you to better support our students.”
Strategies for SPED Teachers
1. Advocate for Training You Actually Need
Don’t let PD decisions happen without your input.
Action Step: Email your SPED director or principal with 2–3 PD topics that would make your work more effective (e.g., “progress monitoring in math interventions” or “working with multilingual SPED learners”).
2. Volunteer for After‑School or Summer Enrichment Roles
These programs often come with stipends and allow you to support your students outside of the 8–3 window.
Action Step: Ask your admin if Title IV‑A funds are supporting enrichment programs and how you can participate.
3. Build Small “IEP Alignment Moments” Into New Programs
When you help design or run enrichment, weave in IEP goals.
Example:
Literacy club → add sight word practice for struggling readers
Robotics after‑school → integrate social skills goals for ASD students
Art programs → align with OT fine‑motor objectives
4. Document, Document, Document
OCR may be slower, but compliance still matters.
Action Step: Keep copies of lesson plans, data sheets, and notes that show how you’re meeting IEP goals even in enrichment or PD activities funded by these dollars.
5. Use This Moment to Strengthen Parent Partnerships
Parents will hear about “funds being released” and wonder what it means for their child.
Action Step: At your next IEP meeting, share:
“Our school received additional federal funds, and we’re using them to support programs like [example]. Here’s how it connects to your child’s goals.”
This Week’s Takeaway
Federal dollars just hit your district’s account but dollars don’t guarantee impact. It’s how we plan, spend, and document that protects our students and empowers our SPED teachers.
Next Step
If you’d like help mapping your 90‑day SPED funding plan, we’d love to support your school.
With purpose and partnership,
Jamilah F. Bashir
Founder & CEO, The IEP Coach LLC