Serving Our Youngest Citizens: A Primer on How Title I and IDEA Federal Stimulus Funds May Be Used for Children Aged Zero Through Five

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, known as the “federal stimulus”) provides significant new funding for Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Since 1965, Title I has provided federal funding to school districts serving disadvantaged children. Since 1975, IDEA has provided federal funding to states and localities to ensure that all children with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education. Although, historically, the majority of these federal funds have been used for children in grades K-12, these funds may, and in some cases must, be used for children aged zero through five. The influx of federal stimulus dollars into these programs presents schools, school districts, and the State Department of Education with an opportunity to take advantage of the flexibility of these dollars to serve our youngest citizens.