|
||
|
||
 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
                 
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||
Judy B. Engelhard, CAN Coordinator for the Division for Learning Disabilities, provides brief reports for TeachingLD.org so that visitors can keep informed about important developments in policies affecting students with learning disabilities and their teachers. TeachingLD.org is pleased to offer this page as a place for people concerned with learning disabilities to keep up to date.
30 September 2004
IDEA REAUTHORIZATION UPDATE
On Tuesday, September 21, the Senate agreed to appoint conferees to the House-Senate conference committee for the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Senate appointed every member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to the conference committee; it is unclear if and when the House will appoint its conferees. When the House appoints its conferees, the committee can begin working on a compromise between the House and Senate IDEA bills that will have to be passed by both chambers before being sent to the President for his signature.
The House passed its version of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (H.R. 1350) in April of 2003, and the Senate passed its bill (S.1248) in May of 2004 by substituting H.R. 1350 for S. 1248.
There is no assurance that IDEA reauthorization legislation will become law before the 108th Session of Congress adjourns at the end of December. Congress is likely to recess in October so that members can return home to campaign for reelection. Most likely Congress will convene a lame-duck, post-election session in November to conclude work on bills that have yet to be passed, specifically the appropriations bills that fund federal government programs.
DLD continues to work with other organizations in suggesting the language to be included in the regulations to implement IDEA, especially related to the identification procedures for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD).
CEC's RECENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON IDEA REAUTHORIZATION (including learning disabilities identification)
To read CEC's recommendations to Congress on IDEA reauthorization, please go here.
For a CEC summary of selected IDEA issues, click here.
SOURCES OF UP-TO-DATE LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION
To
follow all national legislative activities go to http://thomas.loc.gov/
Judy B. Engelhard
CAN Coordinator, DLD
