Tom Harkin: “our amendment ``Leave No Child Behind,'' the third one says that all students, including special needs students, will…”

“our amendment ``Leave No Child Behind,'' the third one says that all students, including special needs students, will master challenging subject matter and Federal education programs will be held accountable and focus on practices proven to work. The title I program provides children who have fallen behind in reading and math with the extra help they need to catch up. However, only one-third of the students who need this extra help are aided. In addition, the Federal commitment to help educate students with disabilities has lagged behind our goal to provide what we in Congress said 26 years ago, that we would endeavor to provide to the States and local communities at least 40 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure to support the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In our amendment, we have increased investments in title I and in IDEA to help schools meet the tough new accountability standards. I might add, it will also provide much needed relief to local property taxpayers who are struggling to finance their schools. This amendment we have sent to the desk will fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to that level we stated 26 years ago that we wanted to do; that is, provide at least a minimum of 40 percent of the average per-pupil expenditures. A fourth part of our amendment addresses that all students will attend classes in a school building that is safe, in good repair, and equipped with the latest technology.”