Legislative Background
Recent Action on Special Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), first enacted in 1975 as the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, was last reauthorized in 1997, although Congress has continued to fund its programs.The original law authorized the Federal Government to reimburse States for as much 40 percent of the average additional per pupil cost of educating every child with a disability. Congress has never come close to meeting that goal. In Fiscal Year 2004, it provided $10.1 billion, covering 19 percent of costs. House LegislationOn April 30, 2003, the House passed H.R. 1350, sponsored by Representative Michael N. Castle (DE-R). The…
