[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 84 (Friday, June 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1121]]



            INTRODUCING THE REALIZING THE SPIRIT OF IDEA ACT

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 21, 2002

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce the Realizing the 
Spirit of IDEA Act.
  For twenty-five years the federal government has made hollow promises 
to fully fund the Individual with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). 
This legislation makes good on that promise; however, it does more than 
that. By linking funding to better outcomes, it also makes sure that 
the spirit of IDEA is truly realized for children with disabilities.
  IDEA opened the school doors to children with disabilities; yet, more 
needs to be done in order to make special education work for disabled 
students. National statistics suggest that there is still a sizable 
disparity in the outcomes of disabled students when compared to 
students without disabilities.
  When compared to students without disabilities, between 19 and 42 
percent fewer disabled students are able to pass state proficiency 
examinations;
  The drop out rate for disabled students is double that of students 
without disabilities;
  Only 55 percent of disabled students receive a regular high school 
diploma (compared to 75 percent of individuals within the general 
school population);
  Disabled individuals are 50% less likely to attend college than are 
individuals who are not disabled;
  Disabled students often avoid the painful experience of school and 
their attendance suffers; and
  The Census Bureau reports that 50% of individuals with disabilities 
are employed, compared with 84% of non-disabled individuals.
  The under-funding of IDEA could help explain why students with 
disabilities fare so poorly on these critical outcomes. While Congress 
has doubled federal appropriations for IDEA over the last decade, 
federal funding for IDEA is less than half of what Congress originally 
promised.
  Unfortunately, recent increases in federal funding have translated 
into very modest improvement in the overall outcomes of disabled 
children. This would suggest that we not only need more federal funding 
for disabled students, but we need to use our resources more wisely.
  The Realizing the Spirit of IDEA Act will dramatically increase the 
financial support for children with disabilities. However, in order to 
receive increases, school districts must make sure disabled children 
are not left behind. In return for mandatory increases in funding for 
IDEA, school districts must help disabled students:
  Increase their attendance;
  Increase academic proficiency;
  Lower the incidence of drop out;
  Increase graduation rate; and
  Improve rates of post-secondary employment and education.
  The bill will also provide mandatory increases in funding for 
research and development as well as for programs that help disabled 
infants, preschoolers and their families.
  Linking mandatory funding to accountability will profoundly change 
the way IDEA works by doing just that--making it work. The Realizing 
the Spirit of IDEA Act is needed to move away from the status quo. Our 
children, regardless of their ability or disability, deserve more that 
a second-class education. We should accept nothing less than the best 
tools we have to help them succeed. Please join me in supporting the 
Realizing the Spirit of IDEA Act. It is about time we give meaning to 
the phrase, Leave No Child Behind.

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