Education

• “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ”(IDEA)

IDEA was enacted in 1975 to provide a free, appropriate public education for students with disabilities. However, no one can dispute that the federal government has yet to deliver on its promise to fund 40% of the cost of special education. Until full funding of the government’s share is achieved, communities across New Hampshire and the nation will bear the burden of funding at least half of this mandate.

For John, there is no greater priority for New Hampshire’s schools than to fully fund the federal share of IDEA, and he will continue the fight to ensure Congress fulfills the commitment it made nearly 30 years ago. Since 1996, when he was first elected to the United States House of Representatives, John has played an integral role in IDEA funding increases of approximately $8 billion, from $2 billion in Fiscal Year 1997 to approximately $10 billion in Fiscal Year 2004 – a strong record of achievement.

Over the next seven years, Congress will double today’s level to reach $26.1 billion in 2011 – 40% of the cost of the federal share of the special education mandate, thanks in large part to the leadership of New Hampshire’s Senior Senator Judd Gregg, who in the 108th Congress served as Chairman of the Senate Committee of Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

When full federal funding of IDEA is achieved, local communities will once again be in the position to utilize critical local resources on important initiatives such as structural improvements to schools, technology upgrades, or to hire new teachers, rather than paying for the federal government's share of special education costs.

• “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLBA)

The bipartisan “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLBA) set specific goals for education, including increased flexibility and local control, stronger accountability for results, and expanded options for parents. The continued implementation of this law will aid our schools in achieving tremendous success over the coming years. Recently, there have been many questions from school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents about the funding levels for NCLBA.

Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act on January 23, 2004, legislation that included $57.3 billion for the Department of Education, providing the highest level of federal funding for education in history. Specifically, this bill included a $728 million increase for disadvantaged students (Title I), as well as an increase of $1.26 billion for special education. Since NCLBA was enacted, New Hampshire has seen an increase of 44% in federal funding for education, totaling over $66 million in FY 2004.

The federal government is currently spending more on education than at any other time in our nation’s history, and John will continue to work to ensure that schools in New Hampshire and across the country have the necessary resources to provide a sound public education.

Further information on the United States Department of Education can be found at: www.ed.gov