WASHINGTON – Legislation to increase the federal government's
commitment to the cost of educating children with disabilities,
co-sponsored by Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI), was approved by
the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 421-3.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that
a free education be provided for children with disabilities. This law
authorizes a federal funding investment of up to 40 percent of the
average national per pupil expenditure, yet annual appropriations by
Congress have fallen far short of that goal. The most the federal
government has contributed to assist states and municipalities is 12.6
percent.
The IDEA Full Funding Act (HR 4055) will provide increased funding in
order to meet the 40 percent goal within 10 years. The bill, which now
moves to the Senate for consideration, hikes the federal contribution by
$2 billion in each of the next 10 years, starting with $7 billion in
Fiscal Year 2001 and reaching $25 billion by Fiscal Year 2010.
"It is critical that the federal government make a commitment to
children with special education needs," said Kennedy. "All too often
schools have to limit school activities, cut academic programs and
curtail modernization efforts because the federal share of IDEA funds is
not enough to meet the needs of their students. This is unacceptable to
our schools and our children, which is why I am proud to have
co-sponsored this legislation."
Kennedy said he has been contacted by numerous Rhode Island education
officials about the lack of federal commitment to children with
disabilities. In particular, Kennedy and his staff are working with the
East Bay Committee on Special Education Funding, a coalition of the
Barrington, Bristol-Warren, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport and Tiverton
School Committee members and school administrators who joined together
earlier this year to address this issue.
"The federal government's share of IDEA falls far short of what is
needed to sustain this important law," Kennedy said, adding that he has
also written to the chairman of the budget committee to request that
increased IDEA funding be a priority in the Fiscal Year 2001 budget.