Government Relations Update

March 5, 2003

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Bill Introduction

Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate has introduced a bill to reauthorize the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  However, both chambers plan to introduce and “mark-up” a bill during March.  (A “mark-up” is a committee process that involves amending the original bill before it is sent to the floor for a full vote.)  The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee plans to mark-up the bill on March 26.  No actual date for the introduction of the bill in either chamber has been scheduled. 

Appropriations

As part of the omnibus FY03 appropriations bill, IDEA received the following amounts (there was an across-the-board cut of .65% in all education programs included in the final conference agreement, therefore, flat funded IDEA programs for FY03 will actually receive a smaller amount than they received in FY02.)---

Part B Grants to States Program--$8.88 Billion
619 Preschool Grants--$384.5 Million
Part C Infants and Toddlers--$430.9 Million
IDEA National Activities (Part D) Total--$335.4 Million
(a)   State Improvement--$51 Million
(b)   Research & Innovation--$76.6 Million
(c)   Technical Assistance & Dissemination--$52.7 Million
(d)   Personnel Preparation--$91.2 Million
(e)   Parent Information Centers--$26.1 Million
(f)    Technology and Media Services--$37.7 Million
National Activities Subtotal--$335.4 Million

All numbers are rounded to the nearest tenth and are from the Department of Education’s website.  To view the Dept. of Ed’s table, please see:  http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/Budget03/03app.xls

Department of Education’s Principles for the Reauthorization of IDEA

On February 25, Secretary Paige released a set of principles that the Department of Education will use in its work regarding the reauthorization of IDEA.  The principles are:

1. Stronger Accountability for Results
2. Simplify Paperwork for States and Communities and Increase Flexibility for All
3. Doing What Works
4. Increase Choice and Meaningful Involvement for Parents

To view the principles in their entirety, please refer to: http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/02-2003/02252003.html

To view NASW’s legislative recommendations regarding IDEA (which were prepared in coalition with the School Social Work Association of America), please see: http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/positions/idea.asp