Ron Kind: “this amendment is not about safety. No one supports a policy that allows a violent or dangerous student to stay in the…”

“this amendment is not about safety. No one supports a policy that allows a violent or dangerous student to stay in the classroom. This amendment is about having an alternative program for children with special needs. Not having that contained in this amendment is wrong. What is even more wrong is the fact that this was the only amendment made in order dealing with one of the most pressing challenges facing schools districts; how to meet the challenge of educating children with special education needs. The gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley) and I offered an amendment that talked about getting the Federal Government to live up to its 40 percent cost share of special education expenses. Unfortunately, that amendment was not made in order. We should have that debate on the floor as a part of the elementary and secondary education bill because every Member can bring anecdotal evidence to this Chamber that shows the pressing financial costs that school districts are facing because we are only funding our responsibility of special education at slightly less than 15 percent when we promised to fund it at 40 percent. We need to help school districts stop pitting student against student because the limited resources that they have available for one of the fastest growing expenses in school budgets, meeting the needs of special students in the classroom.”