Allocations, Carryover & Funding

Program Description: Funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are provided to school districts on an entitlement basis for programs and services to children with disabilities. Part B flow-through provides funds for special education services to children ages 3 to 21. Part B preschool entitlement provides funds for special education services to children ages 3 to 5. Funds may be used for staffing, educational materials, equipment, and other costs to provide special education and related services, as well as supplementary aids and services, to children with disabilities. For more information on allowable costs, view the IDEA Allowables Document.

Who is Eligible to Apply: Wisconsin School Districts (including 2r Independent Charter Schools), Department of Health Services and Department of Corrections

Application Due Date: The application process for entitlement funds is included as part of the local performance plan. The IDEA flow-through (including CEIS) and preschool budget software can be accessed through the Special Education Web Portal. The expenditure of funds is not permissible prior to July 1 of the fiscal year or the date all parts of the IDEA budget application are received, whichever is later.

Modules: Introduction to Special Education Funding

Module 1: Sources of Special Education Funding - requires Flash. PowerPoint printouts are located on the "Attachments" tab of this module.

Module 2: IDEA Entitlement Allocations & Funding Availability - requires Flash. PowerPoint printouts are located on the "Attachments" tab of this module.

IDEA Allocations

The entitlement amounts linked on the files below are for Wisconsin Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) share of Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B flow-through entitlement funding. Part B funds are distributed in accordance with an allocation formula. Each district generates a "base amount" with the base amount determined by the federal govenment equal to the December 1, 1998, child count. Additional dollars are distributed on the basis of the district’s public and private elementary and secondary school enrollment (85%) and the relative number of children living in poverty (15%). Wisconsin is utilizing the number of Title I formula children in each district as the poverty indicator.

IDEA Entitlement Carryover

IDEA Entitlement Carry-Over Policy

  • This document explains that IDEA funds are available for 27 months with no carryover limit set.