Paige advocates research-based approach to meeting the needs of children with disabilities and hails new presidential commission on special education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding the ability of America's schools to identify and provide a quality education to children with disabilities and the need for sound research to inform how we identify and educate children with special needs. His testimony comes one day after President Bush announced the creation of a new President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education.

The White House also announced that the commission would be chaired by former Iowa governor Terry Branstad and named 16 members from around the country as well as five ex officio members from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services. The members include current and former federal, state, and local government officials, recognized special education experts, special and general education finance experts, education researchers, education practitioners, parents of children with disabilities, individuals with disabilities, and others with special experience and expertise in the education of children with disabilities.

"President Bush and I are determined to ensure that every child gets a sound education," Paige said. "With the assistance of this new commission I believe that we can recommend improvements to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and to our special education programs that will allow us to make certain that no child is left behind."

Under the leadership of Gov. Branstad, the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education will study federal, state and local special education programs and recommend how we can reform our special education system and related services in order to improve the educational performance of children with disabilities. The commission will deliver its recommendations to President Bush in a report to be submitted not later than April 30, 2002.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is due for reauthorization by Congress next year.