The bill, IDEA Full Funding Act of 2000, H.R. 4055, passed by 421 to 3 vote and sets a schedule for fully funding the federal government’s commitment to IDEA by the year 2010.

“Twenty-four years ago, Congress made a promise to children and families with special education needs,” Camp said.  “That promise was to provide children with disabilities access to a quality public education by contributing 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure to assist states and local schools with the extra costs of educating these children.”

Since 1975, when IDEA was signed into law, Congress has failed to meet its commitment.  During the past four years, Congress has increased funding for IDEA by 115 percent, or $2.6 billion, for the federal share in IDEA.  Even with the increase, however, the funding equals only 12.6 percent of the average per pupil expenditure to assist children with disabilities.

The bill authorizes increases of $2 billion a year to meet the federal commitment of 40 percent by the year 2010.  The Congressional Research Service estimate that more than $15 billion would be needed to fully fund IDEA.