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Opinion Letter Urges Increased IDEA Funding as Federal Support Faces Uncertainty

The author cites rising demand for services driven by more medically fragile children surviving infancy.

Overview

  • A Boston Globe letter responds to a Nov. 29 Metro report describing uncertainty in the Trump administration over IDEA’s future and its federal funding.
  • The writer argues that cutting special‑education dollars would be shortsighted, limiting students’ ability to gain skills, achieve independence, and participate in the workforce.
  • She notes that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was enacted in 1975 with bipartisan support and signed by President Gerald Ford.
  • The letter cites an increasing incidence of disabling conditions and more premature infants surviving with complex needs, which heightens demand for school‑based services.
  • The author calls for increased federal investment so every child can reach their potential and makes clear she is responding to reported uncertainty rather than a confirmed policy change.