Special Education: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The IDEA Improvement Act

I co-sponsored the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act, which was signed into law on December 3, 2004. This bill will strengthen the IDEA by improving access to professional development for all teachers, expanding monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, resolving disputes equitably, improving students’ transitions from high school to adulthood, and involving parents more thoroughly in the education of their children.

IDEA Funding

I strongly support full mandatory funding of special education.  That is why, in the 108th Congress, I co-sponsored S. 939, which would fulfill the federal government's long-standing promise to provide for 40% of the average per pupil expenditure for each and every child with a disability. 

President Bush's 2007 budget proposal would provide only 17 percent of the cost to education children with special needs, that is less than half of the 40 percent promised to school districts back in 1973.

Now more than ever, the federal government should make good on this promise. I have used my vote to advocate for full funding of this crucial program which would mean an increase of $404 million annually for the state of New York.

Improving the Quality of our Special Education Workforce

I am committed to improving the quality of all teachers and staff who are responsible for educating students with special needs. I was a proud co-sponsor of the Personnel Excellence for Children with Disabilities Act, which would to help schools recruit and retain new special education teachers, and better prepare general education teachers and staff to work with children with special needs. This bill would make research-based, comprehensive professional development available to teachers throughout New York. Much of the language in this bill was included in S. 1248, which was signed into law on December 3, 2004.

Positive Behavioral Supports for Special Needs Students

I introduced legislation that would provide $50 million to enable schools to provide special supports for students with behavior and emotional disabilities to help teachers maintain orderly classrooms. According to the Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education, more than half of beginning teachers who primarily serve students with behavioral disturbance are not fully certified. And general education teachers are also often even less well-prepared to help students overcome their behavioral and emotional disabilities. My legislation was included in S. 1248, which was signed into law no December 3, 2004.