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Hoekstra Votes to Pass Landmark Special Education Reform
IDEA Reauthorization Legislation Aims to Improve Academic Results for Disabled Students, Reduce Unnecessary Paperwork for Educators
Washington,
Nov 19, 2004 -
U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra voted with an overwhelming House majority to reauthorize a landmark special education reform bill that ensures children with disabilities are provided with access to the same learning opportunities as their peers and reduces burdensome paperwork for special education teachers.
“The Improving Education Results for Children with Disabilities Act will help focus resources on improving the education of children with disabilities instead of on unnecessary procedures, paperwork and litigation,” said Hoekstra, R-Holland. “The bill will provide millions of special education students with the opportunity to receive a better education.”
The bill, H.R. 1350, passed the House 397 to 3.
The reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) significantly reduces paperwork and eases red tape for special education teachers. It clarifies federal requirements, targets academic intervention services early in order to reduce the number of children wrongly identified for special education services and provides alternatives to litigation by encouraging conversations and mediation to occur before due process hearings begin.
The bill establishes a clear path toward the federal commitment to fund 40 percent of the average costs associated with educating students with special needs and enacts important changes in discipline procedures to ensure that all children and school personnel are kept safe.
“The bill passed today will help ensure that federal resources are funding a system that produces the best possible academic results for children with disabilities,” Hoekstra said. “It increases accountability and flexibility, and it emphasizes maximizing the effectiveness of teaching methods to improve student achievement.”
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