Political Quotes

“Mr. President, ensuring that all students, regardless of background or ability, receive an education that gives them the opportunity to live a successful and fulfilling life has always been a major focus of my career in public service. To achieve this goal, I have fought especially hard for students with disabilities to have access to the general education curriculum and the services and supports they need to succeed, and to safeguard their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA. That is why I am pleased to introduce the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act, which my colleague Rep. Van Hollen will also be introducing in the House today. This critical legislation will remove the financial barrier that families, especially low- and middle-income families, face as they pursue their children's rights to the free, appropriate public education they deserve and are entitled to under the Fourteenth Amendment. When Congress originally passed IDEA, we recognized the vital importance of parent and school collaboration in special education and required they jointly develop an Individualized Education Plan, IEP, to identify goals to promote the academic achievement of students with disabilities. In general, this partnership has served students well. There are, however, times when schools have not fulfilled their responsibilities to provide an appropriate education.…”