Keep Our PACT Act

The Keep Our PACT Act aims to ensure full federal funding for two critical education programs: Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Congress finds that these programs are essential for addressing educational inequity and guaranteeing a high-quality education for all children, especially those with disabilities. The bill seeks to fulfill a long-standing federal promise to adequately fund these initiatives.

For ESEA Title I Part A, the bill mandates specific appropriations, increasing incrementally each fiscal year from 2026 through 2035. These funds are appropriated "out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated," making them mandatory spending. The annual appropriations are calculated as the difference between the fiscal year 2025 appropriation and a progressively higher target amount, reaching over $54 billion by fiscal year 2035.

Similarly, for IDEA, the bill amends existing law to establish a mandatory funding schedule, also increasing incrementally from fiscal year 2026 to 2035 and beyond. This funding is designed to reach the federal commitment of covering 40 percent of the national average per-pupil expenditure for students with disabilities by fiscal year 2035. The bill also designates these appropriations as an emergency requirement, allowing them to be exempt from certain budgetary limitations and ensuring their implementation.