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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2001

News Release

It's Clutch Time for Education Bill

"Vast, unfunded special ed mandate denies all students chance for success"

Washington, D.C.- "The vast unfunded special education mandate denies all students a chance for success," declared NEA President Bob Chase joining educators at a Capitol Hill rally today calling on Congress to pay its share. Congress is in deadlock over the longstanding special education funding shortfall that pits special education needs against the need for school repairs, smaller class sizes, and new textbooks and technology.

Local schools were shortchanged $11 billion in special education funding this year alone. Federal appropriations continue to fall far short of the federal government's commitment to help meet the cost of educating students with disabilities. For 26 years the federal government promised to pay 40 percent of the cost of special education, but has never funded more than 15 percent, resulting the loss of billions of dollars to local school districts.

"School districts can no longer afford the fiscal juggling act required to meet the needs of special education students and make the investments required to help all students meet higher standards," said Chase.

A provision authored by Senators Hagel (R-NE) and Harkin (D-IA) would "ramp up" investments over six years to the level promised when the program was created almost 30 years ago. "The Elementary and Secondary Education Act is only authorized once every six years," said Chase. "Let's get it right. Providing a quality education for all students, including those with disabilities, requires a federal-state-local partnership."

Shrinking state budgets will mean dire consequences for education. A new NEA report shows the effects of the national recession on state budgets - www.nea.org/publiced/recession.pdf. In response to budget cuts, schools across the nation are increasing class sizes, delaying purchases of classroom technology, and scaling back after-school classes. This reality makes mandatory special education funding an imperative in the final education bill.

The Hagel-Harkin provision enjoys broad bipartisan support across all levels of government and community. The nation's governors, state legislators, school boards, school administrators and parents all strongly support full funding for special education.

To see a state-by-state breakdown of special education funding at stake, visit www.nea.org/lac.

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