Whereas the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of
1975 (Public Law 94–142) was signed into law 35 years ago on November
29;
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 (Public Law
91–230), as amended by the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975,
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 Education of the Handicapped Act as the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1400 et
seq.);
Whereas IDEA was amended by the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (Public Law 105–17) to ensure
that children with disabilities have equal access to, and make progress in, the
general education curriculum and are included in all general State and
district-wide assessment programs;
Whereas IDEA was amended by the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–446) to ensure
that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate
public education that emphasizes special education and related services
designed to meet their individual needs and prepare them for further education,
employment, and independent living;
Whereas IDEA currently serves an estimated 342,000 infants
and toddlers, 709,000 preschoolers, and 5,890,000 children 6 to 21 years of
age;
Whereas IDEA has opened neighborhood schools to students
with disabilities and increased the number of children living in their
communities instead of institutions;
Whereas the academic achievement of students with
disabilities has significantly increased since the enactment of IDEA;
Whereas the number of children with disabilities who
complete high school with a standard diploma has grown significantly since the
enactment of IDEA;
Whereas the number of children with disabilities who
enroll in institutions of higher education has more than tripled since the
enactment of IDEA;
Whereas IDEA requires partnership among parents of
children with disabilities and education professionals in the design and
implementation of the educational services provided to children with
disabilities;
Whereas the achievement of students with disabilities is
integrally linked with the successful alignment of special and general
education systems;
Whereas IDEA has increased the quality of research in
effective teaching practices for students with disabilities; and
Whereas IDEA continues to serve as the framework to
marshal the resources of this Nation to implement the promise of full
participation in society of children with disabilities: Now, therefore, be
it
That the Senate—
(1)recognizes the
35th 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 and 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
in the least restrictive environment and the opportunity to benefit from the
general education curriculum and be prepared for further education, employment,
and independent living.