CONGRESSMAN
COLLIN C. PETERSON
Minnesota - 7th District       http://www.house.gov/collinpeterson/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2003
CONTACT: Allison Myhre/218-847-5056 or 218-731-1657

Peterson says special education funding bill not adequate

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Saying it doesn’t fulfill the promise made to schools that Congress would adequately fund special education, U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson voted against legislation that would have continued to under-fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

“The real problem with IDEA is inadequate funding levels,” Peterson said. “With state budget shortfalls squeezing local school budgets, the federal share for special education is even more crucial.”

When IDEA was formed and became law in 1975, it included a goal for the federal government to fund 40 percent of the costs of special education. The federal government has increased its share over the past few years, but still only contributes around 18 percent of the cost.

IDEA aims to continue to increase funding, but it doesn’t make funding mandatory, and it is a discretionary program subject to annual appropriations.

“I believe mandatory full funding of special education programs is one of the most important contributions the federal government can make to public education,” Peterson said. “What we voted on today fails to make this commitment. Therefore, I could not support this legislation.”

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