Congress overwhelmingly passed a spending package to include increases in funding for mental health and special education programs.

Federal funding for programs benefiting students with disabilities will increase by about $500 million this year.  This should add about 6,000 special education staff across the country.  Of concern, however, is that funding for other programs, including the IDEA preschool program, will remain flat.

Mental health programs will see an increase in funding for behavioral health workforce training and a $47 million increase to state mental health block grants to be used for identification and treatment of early psychosis.