Chair Lee on DOE request to OMB for special ed program expansion

Did the DOE submit a new needs request for these specialized programs?

And how much funding would the DOE like to add for these programs in fiscal 2027?

Yes, so the funding to support these programs are part of our conversations with OMB that have been submitted, and I feel optimistic that we'll continue to have good conversations.

As you noticed, the administration has made significant investments within special ed pre-K, recognizing that we need to capture students early.

And so I think that that in itself shows that.

The administration is fully invested in what the needs are for special education, you know, starting with pre-K, but we will continue to have those discussions around what the K-12 needs are.

So I just want to make sure that I'm clearing the answer.

And the investments in pre-K are wonderful.

I like how you stood up for that.

Look at you.

Yeah.

The investments in pre-K are wonderful.

I often say, you know, I wish so many more of my students had gone to pre-K or that they had been identified as having a need much earlier on.

I think they would have had a much easier life, particularly in school.

And at the same time, we have the needs as kids are in K-12.

And I just want to be clear in your testimony that you did submit the needs, but OMB, I guess, rejected the increase.

And how much additional funding did you request from OMB?

I don't know if I'll necessarily categorize it as rejecting it, and I can get back to you the number.

I'm sorry I don't have it right in front of me, but I can let you know what it was.

Okay.

Not to split hairs, but you made a request and OMB said...

Sorry, so the reason I'm saying it's not, I'm not categorizing it as rejecting is because the budget process is iterative, right?

And so we have ongoing conversations with them throughout the year about what our needs are and are always hopeful that we will see those needs reflected in an upcoming budget.

So when, if you say rejected, that means it's rejected.

Never talk about it again.

That's not the case, right?

And so we do, we have submitted it.

We'll continue to, and we'll continue to have the conversations.

For this budget, for the executive budget, there is 675 additional seats to sustain the program.

You've made a request to expand.

Nest aims horizon even more and OMB came back and said not right now It didn't make it into the executive.

It didn't make it into the executive budget.

Okay, so That that's what I'm asking.

So the so the administration so the deal we is requesting more funding for this and the administration is

not putting it in the executive budget.

Okay.

How can we support then?

Because I think there's wholesale agreement on the importance of these programs, morally and fiscally.

How can the council support the DOE in expanding these crucial and successful programs?