president obama signs idea funding

[Guest guest]

Subject: Hooray for President Obama!!!

> President Signs Legislation to Double IDEA Funding:

> CEC and Special Educators Land Historic Victory

>

> After 34 years of advocating for full funding of the Individuals with

> Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), CEC and its members have much to be

> proud of.

>

> Until recently, the prospect of achieving full funding seemed daunting at

> best. But on Feb. 17, President Barack Obama signed legislation investing

> $12.2 billion into IDEA over two years, which more than doubles current

> funding for IDEA programs. This represents an unprecedented infusion of

> funding into special education and early intervention.

>

> Never before has the federal government made such an investment in special

> education. It is the culmination of decades of advocacy and leadership by

> CEC and its members, who serve on the front line of educating children and

> youth with disabilities.

>

> As any special educator will attest, 1975 marked a pivotal year for

> children and youth with disabilities when President Gerald Ford signed

> into law the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142). IDEA's

> predecessor provided all children with a free and appropriate public

> education. With PL 94-142 the federal government committed to assisting

> states with the additional cost of educating students with disabilities by

> covering 40 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure - the amount

> better known as full funding.

>

> Thirty-four years later, this amount has never exceeded 18 percent. For

> decades, the lack of federal investment in IDEA has forced states and

> districts to bear a disproportionate share of the fiscal burden that comes

> with providing special education and early intervention, further straining

> systems that have been stretched thin for years. Thus 2009 marks another

> critical year for special education, now that the federal government has

> finally taken a respectable step toward achieving full IDEA funding.

>

> In addition, Congress and the Obama Administration have spent the last two

> months crafting legislation to respond to the national economic crisis

> that has affected many state budgets, resulting in cuts to programs and

> personnel and general fiscal unrest. Education is certainly not immune to

> budget crises - in fact, it often feels the recession from all angles, as

> school districts reduce spending and children of families who have

> suffered job layoffs or foreclosures attend school daily.

>

> Knowing this, CEC -- together with national organizations representing

> governors, state legislatures, education, and disability communities --

> advocated for a dramatic investment in IDEA as part of the economic

> stimulus package, officially known as the American Recovery and

> Reinvestment Act (ARRA). CEC and its members conveyed to policymakers how

> an investment in IDEA would preserve programs, prevent layoffs, and free

> up resources for other critical initiatives.

>

> In recent weeks, CEC and its members successfully battled opposition that

> sought to reduce the investment in special education by half, a victory

> unto itself. It was this most recent effort - drawing upon three decades

> of steadfast advocacy - that resulted in Congress agreeing to double

> funding for IDEA programs over two years.

>

> While this infusion of federal funding into IDEA represents the largest

> increase ever for special education, it still falls short of the 40

> percent promised in 1975. CEC recognizes that Congress cannot in one year

> provide enough funding to compensate for three decades of fiscal neglect.

> Therefore, the Council will continue to work with congressional leaders to

> ensure that the new funding level serves as a baseline for future

> increases and that a steady, substantial increase in special education

> funding is a priority for years to come.

>

> CEC-supported initiatives in ARRA include:

>

> *

> $11.4 billion for IDEA grants to states for school-aged students (Part .

> *

> $400 million for IDEA's Preschool Program (Part B Section 619).

> *

> $500 million for IDEA's Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities Program

> (Part C).

> *

> $680 million for rehabilitation services and disability research.

> *

> $13 billion for the Education for the Disadvantaged, of which $10 million

> is allocated for Title I formula grants and $3 billion for School

> Improvement Grants.

> *

> $250 million for the Institute for Education Sciences.

> *

> $53.6 billion for a State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, 83 percent of which

> must be used to restore state support for elementary and secondary

> education to the 2008 or 2009 level (whichever is greater), whereby a

> local education agency may use this funding for any program authorized by

> IDEA, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind Act,

> or the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The remaining

> 17 percent may be used for public safety or other government services

> (which may include education and higher education).

> o

> State Incentive Grants: The U.S. Secretary of Education may award

> incentive grants to states that have made significant progress in

> achieving equity in teacher distribution, establishing a longitudinal data

> system, and enhancing assessments for students with disabilities and

> English language learners.

> o

> Innovation Fund: $650 million may be awarded by the U.S. Secretary of

> Education to recognize school districts, partnerships between nonprofit

> organizations and state education agencies or school districts, or school

> consortiums that have made significant gains in closing achievement gaps.

> *

> $250 million for state longitudinal data systems.

> *

> $200 million for a Teacher Incentive Fund.

> *

> $650 million for education technology.

> *

> $1.1 billion for Early Head Start and $1 billion for Head Start.

> *

> $2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program.

> *

> Extending to July 1, 2009, the moratoria for several controversial

> Medicaid regulations that would cut or eliminate reimbursement for

> targeted case management, transportation, rehabilitation, and

> administrative claiming.

>

> Going forward, CEC plans help special educators understand the

> ramifications of these economic stimulus provisions and how to effectively

> and efficiently use the money to improve educational outcomes for children

> and youth with disabilities. CEC also stands ready to collaborate with the

> Obama Administration and Congress to ensure all children and youth receive

> the high-quality education they need and deserve.

>

> Read the official CEC press release celebrating the passage of the

> economic stimulus bill.

>

> CEC's Policy Initiatives

>

> CEC recently unveiled its 2009-2011 U.S. Public Policy Agenda, a blueprint

> for CEC's policy initiatives over the next two-year congressional cycle.

> At this time, there are numerous policy challenges and opportunities that

> directly impact children and youth with exceptionalities and special

> education professionals.

>

> CEC is committed to ensuring that its members' voice is heard in public

> policy forums where special education decisions are made or influenced.

> While there are many legislative areas of concern to CEC members, CEC's

> Public Policy Agenda represents those indicated as priorities. It is not

> intended to be an exclusive list, but rather serves as a guideline for the

> Council's policy and advocacy work.

>

> CEC's policy initiatives include:

>

> *

> Honoring Congress' pledge to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities

> Education Act and Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left

> Behind Act, rejecting years of broken promises to America's school

> children, educators, and communities.

> *

> Ensuring students with disabilities and gifts and talents are meaningfully

> included in assessment and accountability systems within local, state, and

> federal education systems.

> *

> Ensuring that students with gifts and talents are equitably and

> appropriately identified and served in an effort to grow America's

> domestic talent pipeline.

> *

> Addressing persistent personnel shortages in the recruitment, retention,

> and professional development of special education professionals -

> including teachers, administrators, higher education faculty, and

> researchers. Despite increases in the number of children and youth

> requiring special education services, personnel shortages for special

> education and related services professionals continue to exist.

> *

> Addressing the dropout crisis and postsecondary opportunities for students

> with disabilities.

> *

> Ensuring that medical services provided through Medicaid to children and

> youth with disabilities by school districts and early intervention

> programs remain intact.

> *

> Publishing the final regulations for IDEA's Infants and Toddlers with

> Disabilities Program (Part C).

>

> Read CEC's 2009-2011 Policy Agenda.

>

> Continued Commitment to Advocacy for Children and Youth with Disabilities

>

> As the 111th Congress gets underway and the Obama Administration sets its

> priorities, it is critical that CEC and its members continue to be active

> advocates for children and youth with disabilities and the professionals

> who work on their behalf. As we have seen, the collective voice of CEC

> members helps secure policy victories. CEC encourages you to become

> involved today!

>

> Three ways to become an effective advocate:

>

> 1.

> Sign up for CEC's Policy Insider, a free, weekly e-newsletter that

> provides updates on the latest policy issues impacting CEC members.

> 2.

> Become a CEC Congressional Liaison. Do you have a good professional or

> personal relationship with a member of Congress or their staff? Or are you

> interested in developing a relationship with a policymaker? If so, let CEC

> know that you would like to enhance our ongoing advocacy efforts.

> 3.

> Interested in becoming more involved but unsure of how to go about it?

> Every CEC unit and division has a Children and Youth Action Network (CAN)

> Coordinator who serves as a policy liaison. E-mail beth for

> more information.

>

> CEC Today is a publication of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

> CEC members may distribute published content for educational purposes

> only. © Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). All rights reserved.

>

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