IDEA 2004 Close Up: Changes to Identification of Learning Disabilities
This article from Schwab Learning provides an overview of how changes in the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) — and the pending
federal regulations that provide guidance to states on how to implement the Act
— change the way schools can evaluate students suspected of having specific
learning disabilities (SLD).
More information available at:
http://schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=1063
Education Spending to See Reductions in Fiscal 2006 Federal Budget
The final bill allocating federal spending for education programs for fiscal 2006
(which began on October 1, 2005) reduces funding to support two of the nation’s
largest education programs, No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA). Funding for Title I, the nation’s largest federal
program to help educate disadvantaged children, fell $28 million from fiscal 2005
to $12.7 billion. Funding for the IDEA fell by $7 million over fiscal 2005 to
$10.6 billion. The new spending bill decreases the federal share of the costs
of educating students with disabilities from 18.6 to 17.8 percent, representing
the first drop in spending in that area in a decade.
More information available at:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/12/22/16budget_web.h25.html
ED Proposes Changes in How States Assess IDEA-eligible Students Under NCLB
On December 15, 2005, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued
proposed regulations to amend Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
(NCLB) to provide states with more flexibility regarding the assessment of students
with disabilities. The proposed regulations, known as a “notice of proposed
rulemaking” or “NPRM” provides a 75 day public comment period
which ends on February 28, 2006.
A Fact Sheet about the proposal is available from ED at:
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/speced/achievement/factsheet.html
A story about the proposal published by Education Week is available at:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2006/01/04/16speced.h25.html
New York Times on No Child Left Behind
In its January 11th story, Bitter Lesson: A Good School Gets an
'F', the NYT provides a look at a school working hard to improve student
performance. The story incorrectly states that special education is the single
biggest reason schools are judged failing under the federal law.
Toughening Up for Tests
The New York Times reports on how the Test Monster, an art project designed to
exorcise fears of standardized tests, is helping students cope with the testing
regimen now required to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind law.
More information available at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/10/education/10testing.html
National Disability Policy: A Progress Report
Each year, as required by law, the National Council on Disability submits to the President and Congress a status report, summarizing major developments affecting the lives of people with disabilities in the preceding year and highlighting issues likely to emerge in the year to come. Key topics include issues of concern to all people with disabilities (such as housing, health care, transportation, technology, and homeland security) and issues of concern to people at every stage of the life cycle (from education and youth to employment and long-term services). This report covers the period from December 2003 through December 2004.
More information available at:
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/progress_report.htm
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