GREGG ANNOUNCES INCREASE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDS

(Washington) – Continuing his efforts to increase the federal government’s share of special education costs, Senator Judd Gregg announced today that the Senate appropriations panel that funds special education costs has included an increase of $1.29 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. This is an increase from $4.98 billion in Fiscal Year 2000 to a proposed $6.27 billion for Fiscal Year 2001.

Since becoming a member of the Senate Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in 1996, Sen. Gregg has made it a priority to make the federal government live up to its commitment to fund 40 percent of the costs of special education. The federal government’s share has historically hovered around 6 percent but that amount has doubled over the past 4 years and now stands at 13 percent. Many states, including New Hampshire, have seen their special education allocation more than double as a result of the Republican Senate’s actions. NH’s share has increased more than 100 percent, going from $10.2 million in 1996 to $21.7 million in 2000.

Gregg stated, "Many local school districts around the nation have told me that if the federal government paid its full share of special education costs, then they could provide a better public education for all students. However, the federal government’s chronic underfunding of special education has forced local schools to siphon funds from other programs or raise taxes to make up the difference. This has forced school districts to make difficult choices between special needs students and other students and has often pitted parents of special education students against other parents over resources.

"When special education legislation was first passed in the 1970s, the federal government pledged to share in the cost by providing 40 percent of the costs. The failure of the federal government to meet its commitment has unfairly placed enormous burdens on schools and made their job of educating all students much more difficult. I will continue working to fully fund special education and help ease the burden on local property taxpayers and the local school districts."

The bill containing these funds was approved by the appropriations subcommittee today and will be considered in the full Appropriations Committee tomorrow, followed by the full Senate later this year. Work in the House of Representatives on its version of this legislation is just beginning. See attached chart for more information about New Hampshire’s share of special education funds.

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