CEC Policy Insider

Combating Autism Act Reauthorized by Congress; President Expected to Sign Bill into Law

 Late Monday evening, the Senate approved legislation to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act marking the final legislative hurdle in getting the bill to the President’s desk for his signature.  The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA) provides for increased research, awareness programs, and training of healthcare professionals to identify and support individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.  Originally signed into law by President Bush in 2006, the Combating Autism Act is now up for a three-year renewal.

States Ready to Apply for NCLB Relief; President Obama Calls for Greater Flexibility for Schools

Today, CEC’s Associate Executive Director Deb Ziegler attended an event at the White House to hear President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan unveil how states will be relieved of certain NCLB requirements which have been the cause of constant controversy and concern for many across the country.   In exchange for seeking flexibility, states would have to address how they plan to embrace education reforms, many of which have been deemed controversial and questionable in their application to students with disabilities and the professionals who work on their behalf. 

The end of the fiscal year is near…will Congress pass a budget?

Well, here we are again. Not Groundhog Day, just the end of another federal fiscal year, and yet again, it appears that Congress might not pass a budget.  Last night, to hold things over for a bit, the House passed a short term spending bill (known as a continuing resolution or CR) which would fund the government, basically, at FY2011 levels through November 18, 2011.  The hope is that this would give Congress enough time to finish the appropriations process and reach an agreement.

Ignoring Top-Performing Students Impacts America’s Prosperity

The following is a statement from Marilyn Friend, President of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), on the release of Do High Flyers Maintain Their Altitude? Performance Trends of Top Students report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

On behalf of the three million identified students who are gifted—and the countless more who fall between the cracks of an educational system not designed to meet their needs—the Council for Exceptional Children applauds the Fordham Institute for initiating a study that follows the performance of high-achieving students over much of their educational career.

CEC to Supercommittee: Maintain Federal Investments in Education

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (a.k.a. the SuperCommittee) began its work last week. Formed as a part of the debt ceiling deal, the SuperCommittee is charged with recommending to Congress how to cut $1.2-1.5 trillion dollars from the federal budget by November 23 of this year. Last week, CEC submitted its recommendations to the Supercommitee which can be summed up in one phrase:  Maintain Federal Investment in Education, specifically, special and gifted education.

Read CEC's letter here 

The Supercommittee is set to hold several public hearings and private meetings to discuss where and what to cut over the next few months. It must deliver its recommendations to Congress by November 23, 2011. After that, Congress will have until December 23 to vote to adopt or decline the Supercommittee’s recommended cuts. If the Supercommittee fails to reach agreement, or if Congress fails to adopt a recommendation, predetermined budget cuts – set forth in the debt ceiling deal - will begin automatically in January of 2013.