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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.
22 October 2004
IDEA REAUTHORIZATION UPDATE
Members of Congress have recessed until November 16th . They will return for a one- week lame duck session after the election. Before the recess, the Senate and House had appointed members to the conference committee. Between now and when Congress returns, staff from both bodies will continue to work on a compromise reauthorization bill for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The reauthorization bill is titled the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, which was passed by the House (H.R. 1350) in April of 2003. The Senate passed its bill (S.1248) in May of 2004. The House and Senate are expected to conference when they return in November to work out their differences. Both Houses must pass the same bill before it goes to the President.
CEC continues to work with both conferee members and their staff to get as many of its recommendations adopted as possible. To find out what those recommendations are, go here.
CEC predicts that the reauthorization process will be both fast-moving and "closed-door." This means that CEC will be able to provide information to the conferees however congressional activity on the bill will not to be shared with outside organizations until final agreements are made among the conferees.
These predictions may change with the results of the presidential and congressional elections. Conflicting priorities - including the omnibus appropriations bill - could delay or even prevent the compromise IDEA bill from coming to the House and Senate floors for a vote. There's no timeline as to when the 108th Session will adjourn for good.
DLD continues to work with other organizations in suggesting language to be included in the regulations to implement IDEA, especially related to the identification procedures for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) and descriptions of "highly qualified" teachers and paraprofessionals.
To send a letter to your Senators or Member of Congress, go to CEC's Legislative Action Center at http://capwiz.com/cek/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6135806.
To keep up with the latest on legislative issues, visit CEC's Public Policy website at http://www.cec.sped.org/pp/legislative_update/modules/news/ or http://thomas.loc.gov/
Judy B. Engelhard
CAN Coordinator, DLD
