For More Information:
NEA Communications: 202 822-7200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2002

News Release

Educators: We Need Support for Special Education

NEA Urges Congress, Administration to Provide Teacher Training

Washington, D.C. - The nation's largest teachers union, the National Education Association, urged Congress and the Administration to provide the nation's educators with expert training to help identify and address the needs of special education students.

The union's call to national political leaders came on the heels of a report released today by Harvard University that shows a disproportionate number of minority students are identified as having a disability in school.

"Teachers, along with parents, want to provide struggling students with as much help as possible," said NEA President Reg Weaver. "We're gravely concerned when that intent to help isn't translated appropriately in the school setting. That's why we need to focus on providing teachers with tools they can use to help every student achieve."

Weaver pointed out the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education suggested "It is time for educational systems to recruit, train and support teachers who can apply research-based and culturally competent practices to educating diverse students in their classrooms."

"We completely agree with the Administration on this issue," Weaver said. "My message to Congress is: The President wants it, the parents want it, the teachers want it - so let's get it done."

The NEA supports reforming the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) including:

• Uniform criteria for how students are identified. Currently, the eligibility criteria used to identify students can differ significantly from state to state, district to district and even school to school.
• Early and expert support for students at the first sign of struggle. Effective early intervention strategies have been shown to substantially decrease the special education referral rate. Yet, many schools don't have early intervention teams or teacher training for these early intervention strategies.
• Strengthening of partnerships with parents. Enhancing the information provided to parents to include clear suggestions on what to look for in their child's services, and how to evaluate their child's progress is essential for success.

# # #
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.