Congress
Passes IDEA Reauthorization
The bill reduces red tape and frivolous
lawsuits against schools and teachers, helping teachers focus on
teaching, students on learning.
Senator Norm Coleman announced that the United States Senate voted
unanimously to reauthorize the bipartisan Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA).
The number one goal of
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is to ensure that
all our children have the opportunity learn," said
Coleman. "The legislation we passed helps to accomplish this
by empowering schools, teachers, and parents. The bill helps to ensure
school safety and reasonable discipline, gives schools and parents
flexibility and greater control, while cutting red tape, paperwork
and costly frivolous litigation so teachers can focus on teaching
and students can focus on learning."
IDEA’s reauthorization comes a night before Congress approves
an appropriations bill containing a $607 million increase in funding
for IDEA, advancing toward the federal government’s commitment
to fully fund its share of IDEA’s costs.
“While I had offered an amendment earlier this year to more
substantially step up the pace of the federal government’s
efforts to fully fund IDEA, I am pleased that we are at least making
meaningful progress toward that goal each year," said Coleman.
More information is available at http://thomas.loc.gov and
type in HR 1350.
