Everyone knows that Washington is where good ideas go to die.

The federal government made a promise in 1975 to fund 40 percent of the cost for "Individuals with Disabilities Education" school programs. It was a promise to help local school districts carry the financial burdens associated with these programs. If the federal government took on 40 percent of the cost, school districts could adequately fund other programs and activities. Funding programs for individuals with disabilities is expensive, and overall quality of education is compromised when school districts are forced to take on that enormous investment alone.

That, unfortunately, is exactly what happened: the federal government has never come close to meeting that 40 percent promise. In fact, last year Congress voted to pay the largest percentage ever… just 13 percent.

Congressional action on IDEA was long past due before better funding for school districts was approved in early June. I am proud to be a part of the Congress that is ending 25 years of empty promises to students with disabilities. The most important reason to fund IDEA is to take the pressure off of school districts who, in the past, trimmed or cut other student programs to meet federal guidelines.

At the same time, it is difficult to understand why a spendthrift administration that accuses Congress of being uncaring and unhelpful asked for about $500 million less for IDEA each of the last four years than Congress approved. This year, Congress will spend $5 billion to ensure school districts can meet federal requirements for disabled students' education programs - $750 million more than the president's request.

School districts will now have more flexibility to build new schools and hire more teachers. Local governments can even use the federal dollars to relieve some of the property tax burden on families. Communities can use this new flexibility for whatever they need.

First of all, however, we are obligated to ensure our school systems are well funded so they can provide good learning environments for our children. That means that we meet the needs of as many students as possible - including those with disabilities - to give them all the best chances of realizing their full potentials. Our children are both our hope and our future. Funding education in general, and IDEA specifically, affirms our commitment to help give them the tools they require to succeed.

There is another principle at work here, however: local control of our schools. Each year that the federal government does not contribute their fair share of funding to IDEA, school districts have to make up the difference. When school districts must find extra funding for these programs, other programs suffer, students suffer, and taxpayers don't get the public education system for which they paid. By raising federal IDEA funding to the 40 percent Congress promised in 1975, school districts will have the flexibility and local control they deserve.

Now that is a good idea.