Public School Administrators Urge Senators to Reauthorize Special Education Bill, Support Full Funding Amendment

5/10/2004

From: Barbara Knisely of AASA, 703-875-0723, Bknisely@aasa.org

ARLINGTON, Va., May 10 -- School administrators nationwide are urging their senators to support passage of S. 1248, legislation reauthorizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, because the bill will direct a greater share of each dollar spent to educational services, reduce burdensome paperwork requirements and promote increased cooperation between parents and school districts. School administrators also are urging their members to support an amendment mandating that Congress pay its "fair federal share" of the costs for delivering much-needed educational services to children with disabilities.

American Association of School Administrators' (AASA) Executive Director Paul Houston said that the amendment, cosponsored by Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), and Tom Harkin (D- Iowa), will fully fund IDEA over eight years by offering increases of $2 billion per year through mandatory funding.

"For more than 30 years public school children with disabilities have been served heaping portions of political rhetoric from their federal government regarding full funding for special education. The time is now for Congress to pay its fair federal share of special education costs," said Houston.

Houston commended President Bush's call for a $1 billion annual increase in IDEA funding, but said that a recent Congressional Research Service study showed that even at increases of $1 billion each year, Congress will never reach its promise to fund 40 percent of the cost of educating children with disabilities.

"School superintendents cannot continue to raid their general education budgets to cover Congress' $11 billion shortfall in special education funding," Houston said.

AASA is urging the Senate to adopt another amendment to the bill, sponsored by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), that will eliminate frivolous lawsuits, as well as offer school districts the opportunity to reclaim the attorneys' fees spent fighting these unnecessary suits, Houston said.

"Public schools waste precious dollars defending themselves against frivolous lawsuits vs. using that money to provide necessary educational services," Houston said. "Legal fees alone for just one frivolous lawsuit could cost more than $40,000. That money could be used to fund a math or reading specialist. It shouldn't be used to fight unnecessary lawsuits."

Senate consideration of the IDEA legislation is scheduled to occur this week.

AASA, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders across America and in many other countries. AASA's mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children.