Next Tuesday, June 12, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor –H Subcommittee) will vote on its recommendations for how the federal government should fund education in fiscal year 2013. We need your voice now. We must tell the Senate, before next Tuesday, that funding for special education, special education research and gifted education is important and must be a priority.
This year is fraught with challenges, and CEC and other education organizations are working around the clock to ensure that education funding remains a priority. Have you seen cuts to services in your state or community? Tell your Senator to invest in students, teachers, families and communities here.
FY 2013 is especially challenging because of sequestration. Sequestration is an across the board cut of 8% that is set to hit all education programs on January 2, 2013. What will it mean for IDEA and Special Education Research?
- IDEA Part B Grants to States CUT by $903 Million
- IDEA Part B Section 619 Program CUT by $29 Million
- IDEA Part C Infants & Toddlers CUT by $35 Million
- IDEA Part D National Programs CUT by $19 Million
- Special Education Research CUT by $4 Million
These cuts will devastate school districts and early intervention programs ability to provide services to children and youth across the nation − especially, because they have suffered so many cuts over the last few years due to the economy. To see how much special education research funding your state has received, please click here.
All of these areas have been either severely cut or eliminated already. In FY 2011, Congress eliminated all federal funding for gifted education, when it chose not to fund the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Act. Similarly, that same year, it eliminated $20 million dollars from special education research. Neither cut was restored in FY 2012. Without these important investments, our nation suffers.
Indeed, a May 2012 CEC Survey, conducted with our division the Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE) indicates that districts continue to work under very strained conditions. 86% said funding cuts increased their caseload, 77 % said cuts increased the strain on availability of services for students with disabilities, and 74% said their district reduced professional development. Read more about the survey results here.
Have these cuts impacted you or children and youth with disabilities you serve? Have you seen their impact in your community? Tell your Senators today. You can personalize our letter to add your voice and your story. Go to our CEC Legislative Action Center now and Make Your Voice Heard!
Read CEC's letter to Chairman of the Subcommittee, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Read CEC's letter to Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL)
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