[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 284 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 284


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 12, 2010

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the work and importance of special education teachers.

Whereas, in 1972, the United States Supreme Court ruled that children with 
        disabilities have the same right to receive a quality education in the 
        public schools as their nondisabled peers and, in 1975, the United 
        States Congress passed Public Law 94-142 guaranteeing students with 
        disabilities the right to a free appropriate public education;
Whereas, according to the Department of Education, approximately 6,600,000 
        children (roughly 13 percent of all school-aged children) receive 
        special education services;
Whereas there are over 370,000 highly qualified special education teachers in 
        the United States;
Whereas the work of special education teachers requires them to be able to 
        interact and teach students with specific learning disabilities, hearing 
        impairments, speech or language impairments, orthopedic impairments, 
        visual impairments, autism, combined deafness and blindness, traumatic 
        brain injury, and other health impairments;
Whereas special education teachers are dedicated, possess the ability to 
        understand a diverse group of students' needs, and have the capacity to 
        be innovative in their teaching methods for their unique group of 
        students and understanding of the differences of the children in their 
        care;
Whereas special education teachers must have the ability to interact and 
        coordinate with a child's parents or legal guardians, social workers, 
        school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, and school 
        administrators, as well as other educators to provide the best quality 
        education for their students;
Whereas special education teachers help to develop an individualized education 
        program for every special education student based on the student's needs 
        and abilities; and
Whereas these unique individuals dedicate themselves so special education 
        students are prepared for daily life after graduation: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes the amount of work it requires to be a 
        special education teacher; and
            (2) commends special education teachers for their sacrifice 
        and dedication while providing the quality life skills to 
        individuals with special needs.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 30, 2010.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.