CEC Opposes House Funding Bill Despite Restoration of Funding to IDEA: Proposed $557 million cut to IDEA restored by funding from other education programs

Statement by Deborah Ziegler, Associate Executive Director, Policy and Advocacy Services The Council for Exceptional Children

The Council for Exceptional Children – on behalf of its members who serve on the frontline of education – opposes the passage of H.R. 1, the Continuing Resolution to fund federal programs, by the House of Representatives on Saturday.

This shortsighted legislation cuts billions of dollars from education programs – under the guise of fiscal responsibility – that will only result in undermining the academic achievement of our nation’s students and putting the success of our future workforce at risk.

The original measure included an unprecedented $557.7 million cut to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Grants to States program, which provides states and school districts the funds they rely on to provide students with disabilities access to services and supports necessary for their academic achievement, and to which they are entitled under federal law.

Recognizing the devastating impact a cut of this magnitude would have on students, school districts, and states, Congresswoman McMorris-Rodgers (R-Wash.) sponsored an amendment – which passed by a vote of 249 to 179 – to restore all $557.7 million to IDEA. CEC commends Rep. McMorris-Rodgers for her leadership and commitment to children and youth with disabilities.

CEC fundamentally disagrees, however, with the restoration of IDEA funding using funds cut from other critical education programs. Given that 60 percent of all special education students spend approximately 80 percent of their time in a general education classroom, restoring IDEA by cutting other education programs is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.

CEC and its 35,000 members stand ready to support legislation which recognizes the vital role of IDEA funding to the achievement of America’s 6 million students with disabilities receiving special education services within a strong, well-funded general education system.

Comments

[FeFe]

You can not be serious? There is no money. As a nation we had far better graduation rates and student abilities with less money decades ago when teacher merit over credentials mattered. Fail everywhere including every state having a budget deficit too. Maryland's average wait list for that IDEA help is 9 years. Honestly, I am taxed enough already and my child will have to work harder than most to get ahead in life, but I refuse to compound the matter by spending his future today, and with so little to show for it. No more bailouts, no more borrowing to pay the debt.

Ultimately, on a federal level education policy should be to help those disadvantaged, and ensure the states maintain their own system to allow local control of education which thus ensures more and greater parental involvement and accountability. Keep IDEA, scrap NCLB. Five term Rep Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R, WA-5) has done a commendable job here and I would urge you and the sped community to support the budget. In such harsh economic times, let us not be greedy.

[Lauren Agoratus]

The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (NJ) supports CEC's position for the following reasons:
The House of Representatives is debating H.R. 1, the continuing resolution to fund the government through September of this year, the end of the federal fiscal year. Before, this bill would have cut $557.7 million dollars from IDEA Part B Grants to States. Then, the House passed an amendment to restore this funding to IDEA – essentially level funding IDEA Part B Grants to States at its FY10 amount.
Unfortunately, to pay for this restoration of funds, the House further cut education. To pay for this move, the House voted to: (1) further cut ESEA Title I - specifically from School Improvement Grants, monies which go to the neediest of schools; and (2) to ESEA Title II Teacher Quality Grants – designed to increase capacity in the teaching workforce. Although IDEA may now get these dollars depending on what happens at the end of this rollercoaster ride, the cuts will negatively impact other programs and could mean layoffs and further increase in class size. Because the money to fund IDEA is being taken from other education programs, SPAN does not support this amendment.