FW: Senate Defeats Education Measure

May 23, 2001

AP - A Senate proposal that would have given schools billions of

dollars in new money for special education was defeated Thursday. Senators

overwhelmingly approved legislation that would forgive college loans for

Head Start teachers.

The special education measure, introduced by Sen. Mark Dayton,

D-Minn., sought to give enough funding to schools to serve all disabled

students within two years, appropriating more than $12 billion next year

alone. It was defeated 34-65.

The Senate has already approved giving schools $8.8 billion next year

for their cash-strapped special education programs - $2.5 billion more than

this year. Under the terms of the earlier amendment, passed May 4, the

federal government would add another $2.5 billion each year until 2007,

when

funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act would reach

just

over $21 billion.

President Bush hasn't supported such a large increase. He requested

only $1 billion more for special education in 2002.

The special education law, enacted in 1975, called for Washington to

provide 40 percent of funding for disabled youngsters' education. This

year,

the federal government provided about 15 percent, or $6.3 billion. States

and school districts share a much larger burden, estimated at $50 billion

to

$60 billion.

Earlier Thursday, the Senate approved giving $5,000 in student loan

forgiveness to college graduates who teach for at least five years in

federal Head Start preschool programs.

The amendment, offered by Sen. Voinovich, R-Ohio, was approved

76-24.

It would not take effect until 2007.

Both the Senate and House are considering versions of education

funding legislation. Lawmakers said they expect to finish debate on both

versions by the end of next week.

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