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North Kingstown officials warn federal budget proposals could cut special-education supports
Summary
District Director of Student Services Rachel Sanchez told the North Kingstown CLAC meeting that the district has not yet received its IDEA allotment and that federal budget proposals being discussed could force large shifts from Medicaid and cuts to Head Start, potentially affecting services and staffing paid for with federal funds.
Rachel Sanchez, director of student services for North Kingstown Public Schools, told a CLAC meeting that the district has not yet received its federal IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) allotment and that national budget proposals could reduce or reallocate key funding streams.
Sanchez said the federal allotment normally funds positions — special educators, paraprofessionals and behavior-support staff — and that the district expects to receive the allotment information in July. “Just for your sake, right now, it’s mostly positions. It’s almost actually all positions,” Sanchez said. She added that district officials have been advised to “encumber” any leftover funds so they are not lost when the program reopens.
Sanchez described a wider set of federal actions on the table that could affect the district’s ability to deliver services. “They’re intending to move the department over to the human health services, which is concerning,” she said, and said one option being discussed at the federal level would require $880 million to be shifted from other departments, potentially through cuts to Medicaid. She also said the 2026 budget proposals include a possible cut to Head Start.
Sanchez urged families and advocates to use resources on the Council for Exceptional Children advocacy website and to contact members of Congress with personal stories. She said she had already received a response from Senator Jack Reed indicating he would not support cuts to Medicaid as proposed. “I got a response already back from Jack Reed saying he’s not supporting the cutting Medicaid and what their plan is,” she said.
Sanchez and other meeting participants said the district is preparing for uncertainty but cannot yet show final spending plans because the allotment has not been announced. She said the district’s IDEA allotment is typically used to staff positions and that a sudden reduction could create a deficit if positions and step increases are not covered. “You have to be careful. You have to give a little buffer because positions go up every year as give up steps,” she said.
District officials recommended that parents and community members contact their federal representatives and share stories describing the impact of possible cuts. Sanchez also noted organized advocacy available through the Council for Exceptional Children and encouraged local participation in that outreach.
Impact and next steps: The district expects the federal allotment details in July; until then, officials said they will track updates from advocacy groups and relay guidance to families and the CLAC.
