Alabama State Department of Education seeks public comment on special education application

The Alabama State Department of Education is seeking public comment on a proposed application for federal special education funds.

The documents, which are part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for the Part B and Preschool funds for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023/Alabama Fiscal Year (ALFY) 2024, school year (SY) 2023-2024, are available for public review until May 28.

The state is requesting around $205 million. The money would go to pay special education teachers and staff; provide teaching materials and supplies and pay for transportation and other services for those with disabilities under IDEA.

In the 2020-21 school year, Alabama had 95,189 individuals, or 13% of students aged 3 to 21, identified under IDEA as special education students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that there were 720 kindergarten and elementary school special education teachers in Alabama in May 2021. There were 550 special education teachers in middle schools, 450 in secondary schools and 70 “other” special education teachers.

Once the federal Department of Education has approved the application, the Alabama State Department of Education will award grants and funds to agencies for children aged 3 to 21, according to the Wednesday afternoon news release. 

Public comment will be accepted until Apr. 28 on the documents located here and here.

Emailed public comments with the subject line “Public Comment, FFY 2023 IDEA Part B Application” can be sent to [email protected]. Written comments can also be mailed to:

Alabama State Department of Education
Special Education Services Section
Attention: Public Comment, FFY 2023 IDEA Part B Application Post Office. Box 302101
Montgomery, AL 36130-2101

Further questions can be directed to Erika Richburg via email at [email protected] or via telephone at (334) 694-4782.