Cass Ballenger: “I must say that I'm surprised that a President who stresses the importance of strengthening our educational systems has…”

“I must say that I'm surprised that a President who stresses the importance of strengthening our educational systems has actually proposed through his FY 1999 budget to level fund the only underfunded federal mandate in education--The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). In fact, considering that the number of children with disabilities is projected to increase by 123,000 from 1999 to 2000, the President's budget request actually cuts funding for children with disabilities from $702 per child in FY 1999 to $688 per child in FY 2000. Under IDEA, the federal government is to provide funding aid at 40% of the average per pupil expenditure to assist with the excess costs of education students with disabilities. However, the appropriations for IDEA have not come close to reaching the 40% level. Federal funding has never risen above 12% of the cost of educating these children. Before the 104th Congress when Democrats controlled the House, the federal government was only paying about 7% of the average per pupil expenditure. We are now paying 12% of these costs. That means that since Republicans took control of Congress, IDEA appropriations have risen by 85%! Now, we are not up to the 40% promised; however, we are fighting to further increase federal funds for this very important program while the President requests no funding increases.”