[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE ``TEACHER TRAINING EXPANSION ACT OF 2007''

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                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 19, 2007

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, in this country we have made a 
commitment to fulfill the promise that all students will receive a high 
quality education. As part of this commitment, assessments mandated 
under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) require, among other 
things, that all students will have access to classrooms led by highly 
qualified teachers. In its implementation of the law, the Department of 
Education has made good on this promise, holding students that have 
traditionally been allowed to slip through the cracks, such as students 
with disabilities, to a high standard.
  Students with disabilities, under NCLB and the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), are increasingly being integrated 
into general education classrooms. We have seen great progress from 
this practice. By holding students with disabilities to the same high 
standards that we hold general education students, we encourage them to 
achieve at higher levels. As with all students, students with 
disabilities respond well to being challenged.
  Unfortunately, too many children with disabilities are underserved in 
general education classrooms because general education teachers often 
are not trained to meet their needs. As more of these children enter 
general education classrooms, it is critical that curricula be adapted 
to suit them. General education teachers and personnel must be equipped 
to collaborate with special education teachers to ensure that these 
students receive the best available education.
  That is why I am reintroducing the ``Teacher Training Expansion 
Act,'' legislation that is designed to support training programs for 
teaching students with disabilities. Specifically, this legislation 
would authorize the Secretary of Education to give preference, in the 
distribution of certain grants under IDEA, to local educational 
agencies and certain public or private nonprofit organizations that 
provide such training.
  Under current law, institutions of higher education are already 
granted this preferential status in the distribution of these grants. 
However, I firmly believe that most also make eligible the local 
educational agencies and public or private nonprofit organizations that 
are at the forefront of training teachers who work with disabled 
students.
  Madam Speaker, by supporting this legislation we will help our 
teachers gain the skills they need to work effectively with disabled 
students in general education classrooms and help make good on our 
promise to provide a quality education to all students.
  In conclusion, let us be vigilant in leveling the playing field for 
our disabled and special needs communities in any way that we can. The 
Teacher Training Expansion Act would help in furthering this goal and I 
urge my colleagues to cosponsor it.

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