Steve Israel: “I rise today with concern for our public education system. As a new school year begins on Long Island, many parents are…”

“I rise today with concern for our public education system. As a new school year begins on Long Island, many parents are eager to find out if their children's schools will be labeled failing or in need of improvement, assessments mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. I believe this is also an ideal time for the administration and Congress to assess federal efforts to support our nation's public schools. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind Act were landmark federal policies to ensure quality education for children with disabilities and improve learning results. Unfortunately, these well meaning efforts have been met with great controversy on the local level due to immense funding inadequacies. The monumental No Child Left Behind Act passed Congress in 2001. It made a deal with America's public schools: in exchange for new standards of excellence, the legislation promised new federal funding. Unfortunately, the federal government has not held up its end of the bargain. The FY05 Labor, Health and Human Service and Education Appropriations Act alone shortchanges No Child Left Behind programs by whopping $9.5 billion, making it increasingly difficult for schools to meet new, higher standards. In 1975, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the cost of educating children with disabilities. Not once have they come close to honoring this commitment.”