[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 399 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.399
                                       Agreed to October 4, 2000        

                       One Hundred Sixth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
             the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (Public 
  Law 94-142) was signed into law 25 years ago on November 29, 1975, 
  and amended the State grant program under part B of the Education of 
  the Handicapped Act;

Whereas the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 
  established the Federal policy of ensuring that all children, 
  regardless of the nature or severity of their disability, have 
  available to them a free appropriate public education in the least 
  restrictive environment;

Whereas the Education of the Handicapped Act was further amended by the 
  Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 (Public Law 99-
  457) to create a preschool grant program for children with 
  disabilities 3 to 5 years of age and an early intervention program 
  for infants and toddlers with disabilities from birth through age 2;

Whereas the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1990 (Public 
  Law 101-476) renamed the statute as the Individuals with Disabilities 
  Education Act (IDEA);

Whereas IDEA currently serves an estimated 200,000 infants and 
  toddlers, 600,000 preschoolers, and 5,400,000 children 6 to 21 years 
  of age;

Whereas IDEA has assisted in a dramatic reduction in the number of 
  children with developmental disabilities who must live in State 
  institutions away from their families;

Whereas the number of children with disabilities who complete high 
  school has grown significantly since the enactment of IDEA;

Whereas the number of children with disabilities who enroll in college 
  as freshmen has more than tripled since the enactment of IDEA;

Whereas IDEA has raised the Nation's expectations about the abilities 
  of children with disabilities by requiring access to the general 
  education curriculum;

Whereas improvements to IDEA made in 1997 changed the focus of a 
  child's individualized education program from procedural requirements 
  placed upon teachers and related services personnel to educational 
  results for that child, thus improving academic achievement;

Whereas changes made in 1997 also addressed the need to implement 
  behavioral assessments and intervention strategies for children whose 
  behavior impedes learning to ensure that they receive appropriate 
  supports in order to receive a quality education;

Whereas IDEA ensures full partnership between parents of children with 
  disabilities and education professionals in the design and 
  implementation of the educational services provided to children with 
  disabilities;

Whereas IDEA has supported the classrooms of this Nation by providing 
  Federal resources to the States and local schools to help meet their 
  obligation to educate all children with disabilities;

Whereas, while the Federal Government has not yet met its commitment to 
  fund part B of IDEA at 40 percent of the average per pupil 
  expenditure, it has made significant increases in part B funding by 
  increasing the appropriation by 115 percent since 1995, which is an 
  increase of over $2,600,000,000;

Whereas the 1997 amendments to IDEA increased the amount of Federal 
  funds that have a direct impact on students through improvements such 
  as capping allowable State administrative expenses, which ensures 
  that nearly 99 percent of funding increases directly reach local 
  schools, and requiring mediation upon request by parents in order to 
  reduce costly litigation;

Whereas such amendments also ensured that students whose schools cannot 
  serve them appropriately and students who choose to attend private, 
  parochial, and charter schools have greater access to free 
  appropriate services outside of traditional public schools;

Whereas IDEA has supported, through its discretionary programs, more 
  than two decades of research, demonstration, and training in 
  effective practices for educating children with disabilities, 
  enabling teachers, related services personnel, and administrators 
  effectively to meet the instructional needs of children with 
  disabilities of all ages;

Whereas Federal and State governments can support effective practices 
  in the classroom to ensure appropriate and effective services for 
  children with disabilities; and

Whereas IDEA has succeeded in marshalling the resources of this Nation 
  to implement the promise of full participation in society of children 
  with disabilities: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
        (1) recognizes the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the 
    Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-
    142);
        (2) acknowledges the many and varied contributions of children 
    with disabilities, their parents, teachers, related services 
    personnel, and administrators; and
        (3) reaffirms its support for the Individuals with Disabilities 
    Education Act so that all children with disabilities have access to 
    a free appropriate public education.
  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.