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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2000

News Release

Statement of Bob Chase, President, National Education Association On CEC's "Bright Futures for Exceptional Learners" Report

Washington, D.C. -- The National Education Association welcomes the Council for Exceptional Children's new report, Bright Futures for Exceptional Learners. This worthy document raises critical issues and concerns facing today's educators who are serving special needs children. The report specifically highlights the challenges special needs teachers and their students face on a daily basis. Too many teachers assigned to these positions lack necessary training; are deluged with reports, papers, and plans; lack appropriate instructional materials and support; and are often required to deliver quality instruction with two distinct curricula. The report also makes it clear that a review is needed of licensure requirements across the country in this field.

We applaud the report's plan of action to address these challenges. Clearly, we must all work together to provide these teachers with better professional development opportunities; increased technological support for electronic case management; a review of the case management and reporting techniques of these teachers; and emphasis on a strong and coordinated campaign to recruit additional teachers to the classroom and fortify them with appropriate teaching strategies to meet the demands of special education students.

NEA strongly supports an agenda that ensures that every exceptional student receives individualized services from qualified and caring teachers; that every special and general educator has teaching and learning conditions that make effective practices possible; and that educators set high expectations for themselves and their students.

Every child deserves a quality teacher, one who has the background, resources, skills and support to provide an effective learning experience. Bright Futures for Exceptional Learners is a roadmap to help guide teachers, administrators and the community toward this goal.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.