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School board approves IDEA application totaling about $4.7 million including carryover funds
Summary
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board approved submission of the district’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act application; staff said the district expects roughly $4.2 million in IDEA allocations plus about $500,000 in carryover for total available funds of about $4.7 million.
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education voted June 9 to approve the district’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) application for the 2025–26 year, a funding packet district staff said will include roughly $4.2 million in new federal allocations plus about $500,000 in carryover, for approximately $4.7 million in available IDEA funds.
Jerry Reeder, executive director of special services, told the board that IDEA funding is intended to help meet excess costs for students with disabilities and that federal support covers a fraction of total special-education costs. Reeder explained federal IDEA funding historically aimed to finance up to 40% of special-education costs but said actual federal shares are currently around 12% in many districts; he emphasized IDEA funds may not be used to supplant state or local maintenance-of-effort obligations.
Reeder reviewed the district’s estimated IDEA allocation and carryover: about $4,200,000 in anticipated new funds and approximately $500,000 carried over from prior years, yielding about $4,700,000 available to apply toward special-education services and preschool set-asides. Board members thanked staff for the time-intensive application work and noted increasing student needs.
Board Member Tyler moved to approve the application; the board then took a roll-call vote and the motion carried (see actions). The approval authorizes district staff to submit the IDEA application to state and federal authorities and to use awarded funds under IDEA requirements and maintenance-of-effort constraints.
